Formerly known as the Policía Federal Preventiva until 2009, the Federal Police is the Mexican national police force operating under the authority of the Department for Home Affairs. To enable better co-ordination of the fight against the growing threat of drug cartels, the former Federal Police was formed in 1988 following the merger of four federal organisations: Federal Highway Police, the Fiscal Police, the Investigation and National Security Center, and 1st Military Police Brigade.