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Mexico's former drug czar jailed
Ruling comes as U.S. debates aid to neighbor
February 25, 1997
Web posted at: 10:41 p.m. EST (0341 GMT)In this story:
- U.S. aid to Mexico rides on decision
- Police: Drug baron, drug fighter were neighbors
- Mexican governors deny drug ties
- Related stories and sites
MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Mexico's former anti-narcotics czar was jailed Tuesday after a judge found sufficient evidence to try him on charges of drug corruption.
Second District Judge Armando Baez Espinoza issued the ruling against Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, who until last week was head of Mexico's National Institute for Combatting Drugs, the government news agency Notimex said.
The decision came as the Clinton administration re-opened a debate on whether to continue certifying Mexico as an anti-drug ally.
Washington was caught by surprise last week when Mexico dismissed Rebollo, charging that he took bribes from Amado Carrillo Fuentes, considered Mexico's richest drug baron.
"Until the arrest of the general, there was no question about Mexico's certification," said a White House official who requested anonymity. "Now we're assessing its case."
Mexico on Monday announced the firing of 36 workers in its national narcotics agency who had contact with Gutierrez Rebollo.
Attorney General Jorge Madrazo Cuellar said more firings may follow. He also disputed a published report on Sunday that accused two Mexican state governors of ties to drug traffickers.
U.S. aid to Mexico rides on decision
The United States is expected to announce on March 1 whether it will certify Mexico's anti-drug program. Certification is needed to maintain U.S. financial aid.
U.S. officials Monday discussed a proposal to recertify Mexico's drug programs at a downgraded status, which would keep aid flowing but would be a diplomatic embarrassment for Mexico, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
Police: Drug baron, drug fighter were neighbors
Following a raid in Mexico City, police said they discovered evidence that Carrillo Fuentes occasionally lived on the same floor of a luxury apartment building as Gutierrez Rebollo, who moved in just after taking up his anti-drug post in December.
Mexican police believe Carrillo Fuentes -- head of the powerful Juarez drugs cartel -- gave the apartment to Gutierrez Rebollo. It was one of many properties the general had accumulated over the past several years.
In the raid, police said they found a suitcase in Gutierrez Rebollo's apartment containing $10,000 dollars, an AK-47 rifle, a small wooden barrel engraved with Carillo Fuentes' name and a letter to the drug lord from an associate jailed in a maximum-security prison.
Encrypted cellular telephones and bugging equipment were also found in Gutierrez Rebollo's apartment, police said.
Carillo Fuentes has evaded police attempts to capture him, even slipping out of his sister's wedding just before police raided the event.
Mexican governors deny drug ties
Attorney General Madrazo said government investigations had revealed nothing of substance to implicate the two governors, Sonora Gov. Manlio Fabio Beltrones and Morelos Gov. Jorge Carrillo Olea.
The New York Times said Sunday that accusations linking Beltrones to drug smugglers are based on interviews with U.S. officials, reams of intelligence data and "highly reliable" informers.
Citing U.S. officials and intelligence sources, the paper reported Beltrones has consistently given protection to Carrillo Fuentes.
Both governors challenged the report and Beltrones -- considered presidential material -- took out a full-page ad in Mexico City newspapers to defend himself.
Beltrones, who told CNN he is considering suing The New York Times, also said he was the first to press charges against Carrillo Fuentes so that an arrest warrant could be issued.
"How can I be protecting someone if I am accusing him?" the governor said.
Meanwhile, as the scandals unfold, they obscure what Mexico sees as the real problem: the United States' insatiable appetite for drugs.
Mexico City Bureau Chief Lucia Newman, Correspondent Brian Barger and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- With Mexican drug czar behind bars, U.S. ponders security breach - February 20, 1997
- Mexican drug official arrested on drug charges - February 19, 1997
- Grisly murder points to drugs, powerful figures in Mexico - December 6, 1996
- Mexican cartel leader convicted on drug charges - October 16, 1996
- Dozens arrested in nationwide drug sweep - May 2, 1996
Related sites:
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- Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Special Report on Drug Smuggling Routes Around the World (from The Washington Post)
- The Office of National Drug Control Policy
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration
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