Pubdate: Wed,  9 Jul 2003
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2003 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390

U.S., MEXICO INDICT BROTHERS ON MONEY, DRUG CHARGES

Attorney General John Ashcroft and his Mexican counterpart, Rafael Macedo 
de la Concha, unveiled a new criminal indictment Tuesday against three 
brothers accused of heading one of Mexico's most violent and powerful drug 
gangs.

The Arellano Felix brothers -- Benjamin, Eduardo and Francisco -- and eight 
of their subordinates are accused of ordering a series of killings to 
consolidate their control of the flow of narcotics into the United States.

The 11 suspects are charged with racketeering, conspiracy to import and 
distribute drugs, and money laundering. U.S. authorities also are seeking 
$289 million in cash and property allegedly acquired through the drug trade.

Prosecutors also said they had evidence the cartel held meetings in Mexico 
with a representative of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the 
rebel group known as the FARC, to discuss a proposed trade of weapons for 
cocaine. The deal was thwarted by the 2000 arrest of Ismael Higuera 
Guerrero, the cartel's top lieutenant, in Mexico, authorities said.
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