Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina and Mexico agreed to coordinate operations against drug traffickers as police in the South American country battle a network of smugglers who provide methamphetamine ingredients to Mexican cartels.

“We admire the fight you are carrying out in your country and we are, obviously, disposed to cooperating and coordinating forces,” Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner told visiting Mexican President Felipe Calderon during a ceremony today at the government palace in Buenos Aires.

The presidents and ministers from both nations signed a handful of accords, including agreements aimed at addressing the global financial crisis and improving trade and agricultural programs.

Argentine police are battling a web of ephedrine traffickers linked to Mexican drug rings, according to recent Argentine media reports.

Yesterday, Argentine police extradited a suspected Mexican drug trafficker from Paraguay and arrested the wife of an Argentine who is alleged to be the top local supplier of ephedrine to Mexican drug lords, government news agency Telam reported today.

Ephedrine, used to make legal cough and cold medicines, is a key ingredient in the illegal stimulant methamphetamine.

To contact the reporter on this story: Drew Benson in Buenos Aires at abenson9@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 24, 2008 12:07 EST