Pubdate: Fri, 01 Dec 2000
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Anna Cearley, Staff Writer

MEN TIED TO ARMS DEAL FACE TRIAL IN MEXICO

Suspects Allegedly Negotiated Between Cartel, Guerrillas

Two men accused of negotiating an arms-for-drugs deal between the 
Tijuana-based Arellano Felix drug cartel and one of Colombia's guerrilla 
groups are facing trial in Mexico.

One, Colombian Carlos Ariel Charry Guzman, was allegedly working for the 
leftist Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia.

Mexican authorities say he met at least twice with Ismael Higuera Guerrero, 
suspected of being the chief lieutenant of the Arellano Felix group.

The two men allegedly worked out a deal under which Colombian guerrillas 
would provide the Mexican cartel with drugs in return for cash and weapons.

Charry was captured in August in a Mexico City hotel and is now in a 
federal prison. Higuera, known as "El Mayel," is being held in a Mexico 
City prison on other drug-related charges. Mexican soldiers and federal 
agents captured him in May after storming an Ensenada home.

"This is an important step against the Arellano Felix (cartel). . . . It 
allows two governments to undo ties that have been established by the flow 
of drugs," said Mariano Herran Salvatti, the chief coordinator of Mexico's 
anti-drug agency.

The Arellano Felix cartel is known for its violence and unflinching grip on 
the drug trade along the western portion of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Herran announced the charges against Charry and Higuera Nov. 23. A federal 
judge had the option this week to dismiss them, but instead determined that 
enough evidence exists to continue with a trial. Some of the evidence was 
obtained through the cooperation of Colombian authorities.

The federal judge also upheld charges against two others alleged to have 
assisted the cartel in Baja California.

Enrique Guillermo Salazar Ramos is alleged to have protected the cartel 
when he was a high-ranking official with the Federal Judicial Police in 
Baja California from 1971 to 1992. Similar charges have been filed against 
Enrique Harari Garduno, who was a high-level federal official overseeing 
roads and customs collections.
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