DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246730
TITLE=MEXICO/DRUGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE MEXICAN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS REJECTED CHARGES MADE
IN TUESDAY'S EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT DEFENSE MINISTER
ENRIQUE CERVANTES IS INVOLVED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKERS. AS VOA'S
GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY, THE ACCUSATIONS HIGHLIGHT
ONE OF THE MOST PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS OF US/MEXICO COOPERATION IN
THE DRUG FIGHT.
TEXT: SPOKESMEN FOR THE MEXICAN DEFENSE MINISTRY DESCRIBE THE
ACCUSATIONS CONTAINED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE AS LIES.
HOWEVER, GENERAL CERVANTES HAS MADE NO DIRECT STATEMENT REGARDING
THE STORY.
THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE, BY REPORTER TIM GOLDEN, PROVIDES
DETAILS FROM AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION CARRIED OUT LAST YEAR BY U-S
CUSTOMS AGENTS IN WHICH INFORMATION EMERGED LINKING GENERAL
CERVANTES TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
THE OPERATION WAS STOPPED AT THAT POINT BY THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION. A FORMER U-S CUSTOMS AGENT, QUOTED IN THE
ARTICLE, COMPLAINS OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE, BUT CURRENT U-S
OFFICIALS CITE OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING DOUBTS ABOUT THE
VERACITY OF INFORMANTS WHO PROVIDED THE INFORMATION ABOUT GENERAL
CERVANTES.
THE ACCUSATIONS MADE IN THE ARTICLE, HOWEVER, HIGHLIGHT A
RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE U-S/MEXICO ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORT-- THE
HIGH LEVEL OF OFFICIAL CORRUPTION IN MEXICO AND THE MISTRUST IT
CREATES. CASES OF LOW-LEVEL CORRUPTION ABOUND AND THERE HAVE
BEEN MANY CASES IN WHICH POLICE UNITS WERE DISCOVERED WORKING FOR
CRIMINAL GANGS. BUT GENERAL CERVANTES IS NOT THE FIRST HIGH
OFFICIAL TO COME UNDER SUSPICION IN MEXICO.
IN FEBRUARY OF 1997, THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO
MOVED AGAINST GENERAL JESUS GUTIERREZ REBOLLO, HEAD OF THE
MEXICAN ANTI-DRUG AGENCY, AFTER EVIDENCE WAS DISCOVERED LINKING
HIM TO THE JUAREZ DRUG CARTEL. SUCH DEVELOPMENTS HAVE MADE SOME
U-S AGENTS WARY OF REVEALING INFORMATION TO THEIR MEXICAN
COUNTERPARTS.
HOWEVER, WHEN A U-S STING OPERATION LED TO THE ARREST OF SEVERAL
MEXICAN BANKERS FOR MONEY LAUNDERING LAST YEAR, THE ZEDILLO
GOVERNMENT COMPLAINED BITTERLY BECAUSE AT LEAST PART OF THE
OPERATION, CALLED "CASABLANCA," WAS CARRIED OUT IN MEXICO WITHOUT
PROPER NOTIFICATION BEING GIVEN TO MEXICAN OFFICIALS.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION LATER APOLOGIZED. LAST MONTH, IN
ADVANCE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF MEXICO IN
THE DRUG FIGHT, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS PRAISED THE COOPERATION
BEING PROVIDED BY MEXICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
16-Mar-99 7:10 PM EST (0010 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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