-Caveat Lector- DEA: Mexican Cartels Penetrate U.S. By GEORGE GEDDA .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Just ahead of President Clinton's expected endorsement of Mexico's counterdrug effort, a top Drug Enforcement Administration official said Wednesday the Mexican narcotics cartels' penetration of the United States has increased dramatically. Clinton is expected to ``certify'' Friday that Mexico fully cooperated with American counterdrug efforts last year. The announcement is part of an annual process that evaluates the law enforcement performance of drug source and transit countries. DEA Administrator Thomas Constantine strongly suggested to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control that the drug war, as far as Mexico is concerned, is being lost. But he stopped short of saying Mexico should be decertified. Several senators joined Constantine in expressing exasperation over Mexico's seeming inability to make headway against the drug kingpins. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said that if the issue comes before the Senate, he would vote to decertify. During a visit to Mexico last week, Clinton signaled that Mexico would be certified when he said it ``should not be penalized'' for its counternarcotics efforts. Economic sanctions can be imposed against countries that are ``decertified'' unless a presidential waiver is issued on national security grounds. Asked by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., whether penetration of the United States by Mexican criminal organizations has increased since 1994, Constantine said, '' It has increased dramatically.'' Constantine added that the corruption in Mexican civilian law enforcement has no parallel with anything he has seen in 39 years of police work. Feinstein expressed grave disappointment over Mexico's record in extraditing drug kingpins to the United States for trial, saying only in one minor case has Mexico approved such extradition requests. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, said Mexican authorities' seizures of heroin and cocaine were down last year compared with 1997. But Randy Beers, the State Department's top counternarcotics official, said Mexico deserves credit for a ``serious effort'' to deal with drug traffickers, saying it has conducted an ``unprecedented antidrug campaign that, to my knowledge, has never been duplicated'' elsewhere. He added that, proportionally, Mexico earmarks a higher percentage of its national budget to counterdrug efforts than does the United States. He also noted that Mexico plans to spend more than $400 million over the next three years to combat narcotraffcking through high technology. The administration generally acknowledges that Mexico's antidrug efforts have fallen short but not for lack of trying. ``There is a difference between cooperation and success,'' the State Department said earlier this month. Some senators advocated new approaches. Feinstein suggested a ``binational army'' should be formed to go after the drug kingpins. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., said the United States might be better off just buying all the production of South American drug chieftains and then destroying it. Such an approach, he said, would be cheaper than the current strategy emphasizing eradication and interdiction. Mexico is a major transit point for U.S.-bound cocaine shipments from South America. It is also a major producer of marijuana and a significant producer of heroin. DeWine said the administration shares part of the blame because it failed to seek funding for the top priorities in the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act approved by Congress last year. One priority sought funding for a fungi that government researchers believe can kill narcotics plants without harming other crops or animal life. ``What kind of message does this send to Mexico if our administration is not willing to fund programs that will make a difference for Mexico and our own country,'' he asked. ``What is our commitment to Mexico?'' $143M in Cocaine Seized in Chicago CHICAGO (AP) -- A massive hoard of pure cocaine with a street value of $143 million was confiscated in the Chicago Police Department's largest drug seizure ever, authorities said Wednesday. Four men, two described as high-ranking members of a Mexican cartel that specializes in smuggling cocaine over the U.S. border, were arrested Tuesday night when police raided an auto detail shop. ``This is a tremendous seizure, and it should have an impact on the crack cocaine dealing on the streets of Chicago,'' said Cmdr. Philip J. Cline. Authorities called reporters to a police garage where brick-shaped kilos of cocaine with blue and yellow, balloon-like rubber wrappings were stacked across the floor. The hoard weighed 2,500 pounds and resembled a waist-high brick wall. Some of the kilos were marked with designs that police described as the trademarks of the Colombian cartels that produced the cocaine. ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
