DRUG TRAFFICKERS TAKE CONTROL OF PARTS OF MEXICO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP98-01394R000200030027-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2013
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: October 9, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/25:
CIA-RDP98-01394R000200030027-6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/25:
CIA-RDP98-01394R000200030027-6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/25: CIA-RDP98-01394R000200030027-6
WalI/VIttsl TIMES
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DATE 9
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Drug traffickers take
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PAGE P') By Dav d Brock
control of parts of Meac9
ft David Brock
? ? GUADALAJARA, Mexico
tn the Ahrens border sown of Naco, ? Mexican cos-
toms officer entering the United States was discov-
. end transporting 150 pounds of marijuana In the
trunk of his can Altera skirmish with U.S. Customs
?Maas, during which be assaulted ? U.S. officer, the
men fled back to Mexico on foot. U.S. Customs agents
seized the cat the marijuana and the Mexican's uniform
jacket. Upon learning of the incident, William von Raab,
the commistdoner of Customs, implored his Mexican
otemierPert in a letter to take some action to find the
would-be smuggler, who apparently is still employed at
the Maxim customs &genet' The only =Wen from
Mexico an fan a request that the man's jacket be re-
in the fano 1910s and early 1980s, marijuana and her-
ein trafficking from Madco seemed under control;
through aggissattn joint action with the 'United States,
Mexico's share of its :northern neighbor's heroin market
dropped by half, to 35 percent. A 1984 report by the
House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Con-
trol called Mexico's marijuana and opium -poppy
eradication program an enormous success" and "the
best in the world."
But by 1986, the State Department concluded in a
report that Mexico posed "die most serious problem in
International narcotics control" for the United States.
Dizninishing control by the Mexican government over
the drug trade, the report said, was "in part because of
in apparent spread of drug-related corruption which
has affected every facet of the enforcement program."
. What happened? Officials in Mexico essentially
itoPPed cooperating with the United States, providing a
bow to Mexican drug producers and traffickers, whose
activities have reached alarming new heights in the past
two years. U.S. officials estimate that Mexico is now the
No. 1 source of heroin and marijuana entering the coun-
try. And although most cocaine is still produced in Co-
lombia, in the same two years Mexican dealers have
become significant wholesale brokers, smuggling from
Colombia at least one-third of the roughly 121 tons of
cocaine believed to haw been consumed in the United
States last year. US. government estimates show that
this new cocaine business brought Mexican drug traf-
fickers about 81.23 billion for the year
This hod* influx of additional money has emboldened
the traffickers and allowed them to bribe significant
numbers of officials, paralyzing the Mexican govern-
menrs ability to fight its drug war U.S. officials its
hfeicieci City sity a vast network of Mexican officials is
involved in the drug business, including many who sup-
Madly engaged in the antinarcotics efforts.
-For some months, rumors have circulated in Mexico
that Juan thedefense minister
who a t part of Me iresta
non program, is himself involved in the drug trade. U.S.
intelligence sources say evidence about the general is
"sketchy," but they say with assurance that his son, Juan
Adro Gardoqui, a former federal prosecutoTc-ff
vitriting in wague with major traffickers, passing along
sensitive Information on drug investigations and im-
pending raids. In addition, the United States has intel-
ligence information clearly linking top officials of the
Mexican security police, Mexico's Interpol office (a sec-
tion of the attorney general's office), three Mexican gov-
eroors and cousins of President Miguel de la Madrid
Hutted? to Mich involvement ?vith drug kingpins.
In lone last wan Mr von Raab, who has referred to
the U.S.-htexican border as a "heroin highway" and
"marijuana mainstreet," accused a Mexican governor of
growth sly.4.61 poppies and marijuana cm his preprt. y.
Mr. von Raab mistakenly identified the accused as the
governor of the state of Sonora; he intended to refer to
Antonio lbledo Corr*, at that time the governor of the
state of Sinaloa.
U& law enforcement sources have confirmed that in -
early 1986, Miguel Felix ?Allard?, ? fugitive trafficker
wanted in connection with the murder of. US. drug
enforcement agent in 1983, was a guest at the ranch of
Tbiedo Corr*. The former governor is said by U.S.
sources to have nude a point of looking the other way
during his tenure in return for payoffs.
During the investigation of the 198$ murder of Drug
Enforcement Administration agent Enrique Camarena
Salszat slain by Mexican drug traffickers, the extent of
govertunan drug-related corruption was tint doc-
umented. In fact, U.S. law enforcement
officials believe Mr Camarena was killed
because he was having success in gath-
ering information on corrupt Mexican
police authorities and government offi-
cials.
Mexican federal police officers under
Investigation in the Camarena case told
investigators of their widespread prac-
tice of guarding drug crops and escort-
ing shipments north in return for bribes
and drugs. Their statements charged
that Gabriel Gonzalez, the late chief of
the homicide division of the federal po-
lice, ordered the agents to run errands
for traffickers, guard their lavish parties
and pass on tips about drug roadblocks.
Of.Megcnt&in.tliegedentlaccurity
Diesctocata, one of Mexico's national po-
lice/circa& 400 were dammed because
Joemociation:Lon sut==.:Ttt
noeherladtbave been Filed against any of
diem. The head of thezdifeztriagile
Antonio Zorrilla Perez, left the country
for wen as revelations surfaced. His
case has gained particular notoriety, as
his signature was on a phony police cre-
dential found in the possession of Rafael
Caro Quintero.
One bright spot in the investigation of
the Camarena murder has been the ar-
rest of Mr Caro Quintero, reputedly ?
major Sinaloa drug smuggler. He was
able to elude the authorities for months by staging a
getaway from the Guadalajara airport, which was
guarded by officers of the Federal Judicial Police. The
officers were under orders to arrest Mr Caro Quintero.
In order to ensure his escape, he wrote a check for
$300,000 and handed it to an aide. The aide showed 1110
the top police commander and explained that it would be
cashed the next morning and distributed amoitg the
officers if Mr. Cam Quintero could board Ms plane. The
deal was struck, and Mr. Caro Quintero flew to Costa
Rica, where he was later captured. He is now awaiting
trial in Mexico City,
whlicthelftthcazumaraincit has arrested dolens
of drug traffickers in connection with the murder of Mr.
camezens, only one cotnion has been_secured so tar,
that of Armando Pavan Reyes-theiederaLludi
Ililittander in Guadalajara who took Caro Quin-
teitiWribe. He is out on 8300 bail-awaiting appeal.
This failure to gain coavidilia?is-trparrof-e..larger
pattern that has been a major irritant to U.S. officials
who work with Mexico on the drug issue. The 1986
report from the State Department called Mexico's rec-
ord of prosecuting drug traffickers a "dismal picture."
Says cue DEA official: "The Mexican laws are written to
the advantage of the drug smugglers. They don't allow
wiretaps. They have no conspiracy provisions. Basically,
you have to catch someone in the act. This means there
are few prosecutions."
In the wake of the Ounarena investigation, Mr. Zr-
rills was allowed to resign quietly. Miguel Aldana, for-
Commissioner of Customs William von Raab
?
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/25: CIA-RDP98-01394R000200030027-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/25: CIA-RDP98-01394R000200030027-6
umented. In fact, U.S. law enforcement
officials believe Mk Camarena was killed
because he was ha ing success in gath-
ering information ln corrupt Mexican
police authorities d government offi-
cials.
Mexican federal p611cc officers under
investigation in the Cmarena case told
investiptors of their videspread prac-
tice of guarding drug crops and escort-.
ing shipments north in return for bribes
and drugs. Their statkments charged
that Gabriel Gonzalez, e late chief of
the homicide division o ithe federal po-
lice, ordered the agents lto run errands
for traffickers, guard their lavish parties
and pan on tips about drag roadblocks.
Of 2,200 agents in the FrIderalSecurity
Directorate, one of Mexica's national po-
lice forces, 400 were dismissed because
the government suspected they had illicit '
"asaociations" with drug trafficking, but
no charges have been filed against any of
theni. The head of the directorate, Jose
Antonio &while Perez, left the country
for Spain as revelations suffaced. His
case has gained particular 'try, as
his signature was on a phony ol1ce cre-
dentialfotmd in the possess' of Rafael
Citro Quintero.
One bright spot in the Intestigatiost of
the Camarena murder has been the ar-
rest of ME Caro Quintero, rePtitedly
major Sinaloa drug smuggler \He was
able to elude the authorities months by staging a
getaway from the Guadalajar airport, which was
guarded by officers of the FodeiW Judicial Police. The
officers Isere under orders to anbst Mr. Caro Quintero.
In order to ensure his escape, he wrote a check for
8300.000 and handed it to an aide. The aide showed it to
the top police commander and explained that it would be
cashed the next morning and dikributed among the
officers if Mr Caro Quunero could his plane. The
deal was struck, and Mr. Caro ter? flew to Costa
Rice. Where he was later captured. a is now awaiting
trial in Mexico City
While the Mexican government arrested dozens
of drug traffickers in connection wi the murder of Mr.
Camarene, only one conviction has secured so fax
that Of Armando Pavon Reyes, the F Judicial Po-
lice Commander in Guadalajara who k Caro Quin-
tare'. bribe. He is out on $300 bail
Ibis failure to gain convictions is
panne that has been a major irritant
who work with Mexico on the drug
/
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The Drug Flow from Mexico
Mexican organizations move brown heroin and black tar heroin
into the Southwestern United States. The Mexican groups also
use these routes to move minivana and cocaine In concert with
Colombian trafficking organizations. The enlarged area shows
the malor Mexican Ma* where drugs are produced. ?.
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U.S. officials
tie The 1986
regent from the State Department call Mexico's rec-
ord of pnisecuting drug traffickers a"'mal picture."
Says ant DEA official: "The Mexican la are written to
thitadVentage of the drug smugglers, don't allow
wiretaps. They hew no conspiracy provief . Basically,
you hose to catch someone in the act. This eans there
are few prosecutions."
In the wake of the Camarena investiga Mr. Zor-
rills was allowed to resign quietist Miguel dans, for-
''--"missioner of Customs William von Raab
mer head of Mexico's Interpol office, left office over-
night after reports surfaced that he took bribes from
cocaine dealers. The Mexican government has also
failed to prosecute the police officers believed to be
involved in the torture of U.S. drug enforcement agent
Victor Cortez Jr. in August 1986.
Official cooperation with the drug merchants takes
many different forms, DEA officials say. The centerpiece
of the drug enforcement program is the crop eradication
effort. But in the past two years, says one drug agency
source. U.S. officials have received reports that the
"Mexican air fleet is not flying in the areas where culti-
vation is occurring. Or they say they are spraying when
they are not, or they are spraying water instead of her-
bicides." Often, Mexican pilots in U.S.-financed
eradication programs are visited by drug traffickers
after a successful run and bought off. They either make
no more runs or skip fields when they do.
There are 13 elite zone commanders in Mexico's drug
war. Consider the story of one, detailed Ins recent Mexi-
can press account. Police officer Hugo Quintanilla was
promoted and put in charge of a fleet of helicopters and
20 pilots. His mandate: to destroy marijuana and poppy
cultivation in the south of Mexico. Within months, ac-
cording to the report, Mr. Quintanilla was flying his air
force at the behest of the drug underworld, pocketing
$20,000 an acre not to spray herbicides and bribing the
policemen under him to go along with him. For $70,000,
he turned his officers into baggage handlers for an air-
borne U.S.-bound shipment.
Mr von Raab, in congressional testimony, summed up
last year: "The Mexicans are, in effect, the freight for-
warders and security services for Colombian drug
smuggling groups."
No one can say with certainty why Mexico's drug
Vbee%
has beset the *don for the past few MIST anus
that Mexican Officials, especially lowerranking ones
like local police officers, are practically incapable of
turning their backs on the mammoth bribe offers of the
cocaine made. Of the production level, a DEA official in
Mexico says: "Look, you've got farmers who are doing
nothing else. This is the only good cash crop they can
producer Others say that members of the ruling Pa rt ido
Revolucionario Institucional, concerned about peasant
unrest in the mountains, have ordered the police to turn
a blind eye to cultivation of drugs.
In addition, Mexico has become an alternative drug
trafficking route ? leading to Texas, New Mexico, Ari-
zona and California ? as the United States has success-
fully slowed the flow of drugs into Florida. Efforts to win
'similar victories along the border, however, have been
stymied by Mexico's refusal to allow U.S. agents to pur-
sue drug traffickers into Mexican territory, U.S. funding
MAC by SChOtt CheiThe Washington the,
for the Mexican anrinarootics program in 1987 is VS
billion.
"As long as drug smugglers are free either to fear&
their planes to Mexico and land in safe haven,'
matter, drug smugglers are free just to quickly. rail
*cross the Rio Grande river and find theniselveslikt
haven, the U.S. effort is doomed to failure:' Mi. vas Ra
testified. Proposals for more rigid control of the &WSW
by US. officials, in effect sealing off the semipermeable-
1,900.mile border against unauthorized crosaingi, Mr*
not yet been seriously considered, US. officials sarAlk
such proposal would be profoundly disturbing lib
Mexico, which would have to contain the thousands et
disaffected Mexicans who stream across the border Into
the United States each year.
DEA officials in both the United States aitif talk&
say that the Mexican government has a grovriorieby
By 1986, the State Departmeift;,1
concluded in a report that Marco
posed "the most serious probleiri
in international narcotics control"
for the United States,
interest in controlling the drug trade, as its expansion II
weakening the authority of the central gave's:meat Aie
some regions. In November 1985, in southern Vetacnit
state, drug traffickers killed 17 Mexican police officers,
asaistsited'all paiisati "1'4
bodies of [Our peasants ntittklagid
speaking out against dttigsattYpubliC
was to show the local governor that he Ought
to the narcotics traffickers, not the PRI," says Obi"
can law enforcement official.
Adding to high-level apprehension is the smuggibmgd
large quantities of firearms into Mexico, many of *Mai
end up in the hands of drug traffickers. No firearms are
manufactured in the country; most are bought bithe
United States and transported across the borden.Some
eventually go farther south, headed for commimistgnei
rillas in El Salvador and Guatemala. U.S. Hordes' Patrol
agents report a steady increase in the numberlif tni
seized in smuggling investigations at the U.S.-Modetat
border. A thousand guns were seized in 1984;4,000 IS
1985 and more than 10,000 in 1986.
' ' '
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/25: CIA-RDP9R-n1lci4pnnnormnor,,?