FBIS4-33188 "drlat107_c_94005"
FBIS-LAT-94-107 Daily Report 31 May 1994
MEXICO

Four Groups Control Drugs, Have `Corruption Mattress'

Four Groups Control Drugs, Have `Corruption Mattress' PA0206172494 Paris AFP in Spanish 1632 GMT 31 May 94 PA0206172494 Paris AFP Spanish BFN [Text] Mexico City, May 31 (AFP) -- Mario Ruiz, the deputy attorney general of the Republic, stated this Tuesday, that drug trafficking in Mexico is controlled by four large groups that have "all the economic and technological resources to conduct their activities." In an interview given to the Monitor newscast, the official admitted that the powerful Mexican traffickers have a "corruption mattress" among the police and they also have "ties with international capos." The Mexican capos are the Arellano Felix brothers of the Tijuana cartel, Hector Palma of the Sinaloa cartel, Juan Garcia Abrego of the Tamaulipas cartel, and Amado Cardillo of the Juarez cartel, the deputy attorney general stated. Ruiz, who recently gave Federal Judicial Police [PJF] members a one-month ultimatum to arrest the drug chieftains, said the Attorney General's Office (PGR) is attempting to break the intermediate structures of the banks. He pointed out that until the capos are arrested, the authorities will attempt to interrupt the flow of money and drugs to the cartel chieftains. The deputy attorney general said getting to the capos is very difficult as they have a "corruption mattress" as well as "all the economic and technological resources to move about and even to leave the country and return. It is, thus, very difficult to search for them." He added, however, "when we arrest intermediate drug traffickers, they will give us information that will allow us to achieve bigger objectives." Ruiz admitted the struggle against drug trafficking is an endless war, but as long as the institutions and the PGR continue to battle they will be able to control the situation and, in principle, stop drug-trafficking activities from growing. Last weekend, Ruiz demanded that the PJF in charge of the fight against drug traffickers arrest the drug chieftains. Ruiz said that if the PJF does not make arrests, they will be charged with negligence or complicity and they will be subjected to justice. He explained there is evidence tying policemen with organized crime but he asserted that most of the PJF members are honest. He said the PGR is determined to get results, such as a large quantity of drugs seized and the arrest of more drug traffickers.