Mexican leader denies ties to drug trade

Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Labastida

February 6, 1998
Web posted at: 9:31 p.m. EST (0231 GMT)

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Labastida is angrily denying an American newspaper report that he collaborated with drug traffickers when he was the governor of the state of Sinaloa.

The Washington Times, citing a secret report obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency, said Labastida turned a blind eye to drug trafficking during his governorship, which lasted from 1987 to 1993. The CIA has refused to confirm or deny the existence of the report.

But in a letter faxed to the Times and other news organizations, Labastida -- who as interior minister is considered to be the second most powerful figure in Mexico after President Ernesto Zedillo and is in charge of the police -- denied that he in any way helped the drug trade.

"During my governorship, not only did we not protect or aid any individual or group connected to crime or delinquency, but, in fact, my family and I were victims of violent aggression because of the fight that we faced," he said.

"There are proven testimonies of the enormous efforts that the government and society together made to combat violence, crime and drug trafficking," he said.

Mexican Foreign Minister Rosario Green

Mexican Foreign Minster Rosario Green made a formal protest to the United States, demanding an explanation of the alleged CIA report.

The revelations come at a sensitive time, just three weeks before the White House and U.S. Congress must certify that Mexico is making progress in the war against drugs.

U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Georgia, a frequent critic of Mexico's efforts to fight the drug trade, called the allegations raised by the newspaper "very serious."

"If confirmed, this latest development could complicate the certification process," Coverdell said.

But White House drug policy adviser Barry McCaffrey says he has seen no evidence that Labastida was involved with drug traffickers and that the United States would continue to work with him.

"We have not gone to the Mexican government about this minister, and we don't intend to," McCaffrey said.

Sinaloa, a state of Mexico's Pacific coast, is home to one of the strongest of Mexico's drug cartels. It has also produced two of the country's most notorious drug kingpins, Joaquin Guzman and Amado Carillo Fuentes.

Mexico City, Mexico

During Labastida's governorship, his attorney general, Francisco Aldolfo Alvarez, was killed by drug traffickers.

"His sacrifice makes all the more indignant these lies," Labastida wrote in his response to the Washington Times.

Labastida is widely considered to be a possible presidential candidate of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party in the 2000 election.

Mexico City Bureau Chief Chris Kline and Reuters contributed to this report.

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