Pubdate: Wed, 17 Apr 2002
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Dane Schiller, San Antonio Express-News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa)

DEA BOSS SEES STEADY DRUG FLOW

The nation won't see a drop in the quantity of drugs being smuggled into 
the United States anytime soon as a result of the death and arrests of key 
Mexican cartel figures, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration 
said Tuesday.

Instead, the recent actions will do more to teach respect for the law and 
warn whoever takes over cartel leadership that their activities will leave 
them dead or behind bars, DEA Director Asa Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said the arrests make "an enormous difference."

"For decades there wasn't a belief that the law ruled (in Mexico)," said 
Hutchinson, who was in San Antonio to address the Express-News Editorial 
Board and a statewide gathering of police chiefs.

"It instills a respect for the institution of government," Hutchinson said.

The U.S.-Mexico border's largest cartel, which was based in Tijuana, 
Mexico, and run by brothers Ramon and Benjamin Arellano Felix, suffered a 
one-two punch earlier this year when Ramon was killed and Benjamin was 
arrested.

And last week, federal agents swept through Tijuana and arrested more than 
two dozen police officers who were charged with corruption.

With time, as organizations are dismantled, the flow of drugs will slow, 
Hutchinson said.

Adan Medrano, allegedly the second-in-command of the Gulf Cartel was 
arrested in March in the border city of Matamoros.

The Gulf Cartel has seen a years-long leadership battle after the 
conviction of former cartel boss Juan Garcia Abrego, who is serving 
multiple life sentences in a U.S. federal prison.

Hutchinson praised the efforts of Mexican authorities taking on the cartels 
and said his agency will continue to cooperate with its Mexican counterparts.

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, who accompanied Hutchinson, said 
Mexico is working with the United States and making a "good faith" effort 
to take on drug traffickers.

"We're getting good cooperation from elected officials, particularly 
(President) Vicente Fox, which is a dramatic change," said Smith, chairman 
of the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security.

"What he confronts is what we confront - a level of corruption that 
undermines his efforts and our efforts," Smith said.

About 235,376 pounds of cocaine nationwide was seized or turned over to the 
DEA in fiscal year 2001. That same year, the DEA saw more than 2.6 million 
pounds of marijuana.
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