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DATE=10/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240484
TITLE=MEXICO-SALINAS
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: SWISS AUTHORITIES HAVE ORDERED THE CONFISCATION OF MORE 
THAN $100 MILLION DOLLARS BELONGING TO RAUL SALINAS, BROTHER OF 
FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT CARLOS SALINAS. THEY SAY MR. SALINAS 
LAUNDERED DRUG MONEY FROM 1988 TO 1994 WHEN HIS BROTHER WAS 
PRESIDENT. CINDY LAVANDEROS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY.
TEXT: AFTER A THREE-YEAR INVESTIGATION, SWISS PROSECUTORS HAVE 
CONCLUDED THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ACCOUNTS BELONGING TO RAUL 
SALINAS CAME FROM DRUG TRAFFICKING BRIBES. THEY HAVE ORDERED THE 
CONFISCATION OF $114 MILLION DOLLARS, MOST OF WHICH ARE IN SWISS 
BANK ACCOUNTS.
DESPITE THEIR CONCLUSIONS, SWISS PROSECUTORS SAY THEY WILL  NOT  
PROCEED WITH THEIR CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST RAUL SALINAS BECAUSE 
MEXICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION.
MR. SALINAS IS CURRENTLY IN A HIGH SECURITY PRISON IN MEXICO 
AWAITING TRIAL ON CHARGES RANGING FROM MASTERMINDING THE 1994 
MURDER OF A POLITICAL RIVAL, TO ILLEGAL ENRICHMENT DURING HIS 
BROTHER'S ADMINISTRATION.
SWISS AUTHORITIES SAY RAUL SALINAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS 
OF DOLLARS IN PAYOFFS FROM COLOMBIAN AND MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS. 
PART OF THE MONEY, THEY SAY, WAS SPENT BRIBING MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AND SECURITY FORCES; THE REST WAS DEPOSITED IN MEXICAN 
AND FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS. SWISS PROSECUTORS ESTIMATE RAUL 
SALINAS RECEIVED AT LEAST $500 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE DRUG 
CARTELS.
MR. SALINAS HAS DENIED ANY TIES TO DRUG TRAFFICKING. HE CLAIMS 
THE FUNDS DEPOSITED IN HIS SWISS ACCOUNTS BELONG TO AN INVESTMENT
FUND HE CREATED WITH WEALTHY FRIENDS. HE SAID FROM HIS PRISON 
CELL THAT HE WOULD REFUTE SWISS ACCUSATIONS "POINT BY POINT."
BUT A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE SWISS PROSECUTORS OFFICE SAYS, "THE
BUSINESS DEALINGS RAUL SALINAS CLAIMS TO BE LEGAL ARE FOR ALL 
PRACTICAL PURPOSES UNSOUND AND INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND CONTRARY TO 
CUSTOMARY BUSINESS USAGE."
FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT CARLOS SALINAS, WHO MOVED TO IRELAND IN 
1995 AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, HAS  NOT  BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY CRIME.
LOCAL MEDIA REPORT HE IS CURRENTLY IN CUBA CONSULTING WITH 
ADVISERS ON HIS BROTHER'S MONEY LAUNDERING CASE.  (SIGNED)
NEB/CL/GE
20-Oct-98 2:39 PM EDT (1839 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.