Frontera NorteSur, March 1999

Clinton Certifies México As Partner In War Against Illegal Drugs

The Border Reacts to Certification

On Friday, February 26, the Clinton administration announced that they would certify México as a partner in the war against drugs keeping México from possible economic sanctions. US congress is not expected to pass the certification without a fight, however, border experts believe the decision will not be vetoed.

Although Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson,R-Texas says the certification of México "does not change the facts - drug trafficking is worse than ever," a local economist doesn't believe congress will vote to decertify México. Tom Fullerton, from University of El Paso Texas (UTEP) says, "It doesn't make economic sense considering the volume of trade México represents."

According to the El Paso Times México has grown to be the second largest trading partner since NAFTA took effect in 1990. And the border region plays a strong role in this growth. The maquiladora industry in Cd. Juárez brings $8billion worth of business into El Paso each year, and numerous companies have moved into the area since the 1960s supporting the border business community, according to the Greater El paso Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 30,000 jobs exist in El Paso because of the Cd. Juárez maquilas.

If México's recent certification is turned over by Congress, trade sanctions are likely to be imposed, which would alter the economic situation on the border tremendously. "It would be absolutely devastating," says Jose Alejandro Lozano, chairperson of the Commission on Border Relations. "We're trying to form new partnerships with Juárez and this will be a real blow. It won't help one bit."

There exists a fear that politicians in Washington don't understand the border. "D.C. politicians are completely out of touch with the border," according to Lozano. Crucial projects that are under way would be jeopardized such as a high school student exchange program in process and the the construction of new sewage treatment plants in Cd. Juárez that is funded in part by US grants. "They don't realize that we're bound by the bones with Juárez."

Nonetheless, there are few who dispute the fact that drug trafficking is on the rise and the El Paso Cd. Juárez border is one of the most active thoroughfares for illegal drug transport. Clinton overlooked the problems however and noted that "cooperation with México has clearly improved under President Zedillo's leadership." Clinton congratulated the fact that much of the information US anti-drug officials hold is because of what México has provided. Cooperation efforts, not results, is what is being looked at including arm in arm efforts by DEA agents and Méxican counterparts, transfers of Mexican prisoners for US trials, as well as arrests and confiscations. Numbers are down for this year, however, they have not broken records. Additionally, Clinton believes that México can not solve its problems overnight, and that the US is better off working with them in the drug war than without them.

Congress may not agree, however. In 1998 the fight against Clinton's certification of México was a tough one, and the same is expected this year. Two thirds vote is needed to over-turn Clinton's decision, and there are members of congress who are gong to try to see that it happens. Among some senator's concerns are that México has not expedited extraditions of drug traffickers and money launderers to the US and that DEA agents are not allowed to carry firearms into México. House Speaker Dennis Hastert R-Illinois acknowledged that the US must do its part to control demand, however "México must exercise better control over its borders."

An estimated two-thirds of the cocaine in the US crosses the Méxican border, and anywhere from $7 to $50 billion worth of drugs in general, cross over the Cd. Juárez El Paso border. Phil Jordan, a former DEA agent says "the only way México knows how to do business is through blatant corruption. How many times can a nation fail in their fight against narco trafficking before we realize enough is enough?"

However, UTEP political science professor Gregory Rocha says that Mexican authorities aren't paid nearly enough and "for turning their backs at the right time they can make more than they earn in a year." He says that this is overplayed in the media, and the anti-Mexican stereotypes gain strength.

México has mixed reaction to US certification. Some believe that certification is an act of distrust, which does not help the fight against drug trafficking. "One country does not need to certify another," said Secretary of State Grancisco Labastida Ochoa. Ochoa was part of the team presenting México's most recent anti-drug strategy in mid-February to US officials in Washington D.C. México maintains that drug trafficking is its main security problem and the fight against drugs is a top national priority. President Zedillo announced the government's commitment of $400 to $500 million toward combating illegal drugs and and both countries adopted the American Alliance Against Drugs, a measure including training, equipment and intensifcation of drug trafficking efforts focusing to a large extent on the border.

México's Drug Executions Increase in 1998

Although efforts against the drug war may have increased, a recent report reveals that in 1998 there were approximately 1,120 drug trafficking executions in eight of México's states, an increase of approximately 60 percent since 1997. Fifty-six of 1998's executions were in Chihuahua, which puts the state sixth on the list, with Baja California at the top of the list with 315 according to the Mexican Institute of Studies on Organized Crime (IMECO).

The majority of the Chihuahua executions were in Cd. Juárez where four massacres occurred in restaurants (Max fim, Geronimo's, Jarro Kaffé and Kin Sui) taking the lives of innocent victims and drawing national attention to the city.

In 1996 and 1997 together there were approximtely 1500 drug related executions, and it is believed that the increase in 1998 is due in large part to the fall of known drug cartel leaders including Juan García Abrego of the Gulf Cartel who was captured and the death of Amado Carrillo Fuentes of the Juárez Cartel. These events opened up a fight for the control of the cartels.

The most recent drug trafficking execution attempt in Cd. Juárez occurred in February with an attempt on the life of Dante Poggio Hernandez and his family. (See "Local Shooting" below).

Drug Trafficking Problems Disgrace Arizona Border

At an early February press conference FBI authorities accused Customs and INS agents from the US México border of suffering from "extensive" corruption related to drug trafficking and that the situation is a "national disgrace."

Three customs inspectors and a former INS agent were arrested and charged with accepting bribes from drug lords in order to allow drug transportation across the Nogales/Nogales border. The suspects received up to $800 thousand in exchange for trafficking up to 20 tons of cocaine between 1997 and 1998. 'The impact of this investigation is comparatively small when you consider the far-reaching effects of the problem," said Steve McGraw, FBI chief in Tucson, Arizona.

A poll taken in 1997 among all levels of police agents in Arizona revealed that most attribute the security problems of the state to be from corruption derived from drug trafficking. A Special Task Force Against Corruption in Southern Arizona was formed as a result of this poll and it was an investigation by this Task Force that led to the recent arrests.

Local Shooting Appears To Be Drug Trafficking Incident

On February 7 a shooting which initially appeared to be an armed assault on a random vehicle has now become what police believe to be a drug-related attack on former PJE agent Dante Poggio Hernandez and his family. During the early hours of Sunday the seventh, while Rosa Camarena, Poggio's wife, was traveling with her 10 year-old daughter down the streets of Cd. Juárez her car was subjected to a rain of gun fire in what she claims was an attempt to steal her belongings. However, now that local and state authorities have furthered the original assault investigation evidence has been discovered that, according to authorities, reveals the motive was to capture or kill alleged cartel guardian Dante Poggio.

Poggio is a former judicial agent of the State of Chihuahua, and in the eighties' was associated to Armando Olivares, who then managed the Cartel de Juárez. On May 30, 1989, Poggio was arrested for possession of cocaine and an arsenal of powerful firearms. Among the properties that were confiscated from Poggio in 1989 were a mansion, three warehouses that originally belonged to drug lord Chuy Meléndez Flores, who was assassinated that same year, 2 million dollars, 20 vehicles and a Cessna airplane.

Currently Poggio owns what is considered by many as the most luxurious nightclub in Cd. Juárez, Tequila Frogs. The bar is estimated to be worth over 4 million dollars and as of the recent incidents involving Camarena, authorities are beginning to question Poggio's possessions as well as his whereabouts.

According to authorities in Cd. Juárez after the shooting Rosa Camarena accompanied police officers to the station to present a formal statement in which she not only makes no mention of Poggio, but claims that Police Commander Roberto Corral let the suspects go free. Camarena accused Corral and other agents of setting free two men who fit her description of the assailants without even questioning them. The Municipal Police department stated that the two persons questioned that evening turned out to be PJE agents that were working near by and they were released after their identity had been confirmed.

Police officials reported that Camarena's car was shot with a .223 caliber rifle, and a pick up was also discovered blocks from the scene with the same type of bullet holes, which is what led officials to believe that Poggio was present. An unofficial version of the motive of the crime that the incident was an effort to kidnap Poggio for his relation with the drug cartel. In an effort to confirm Poggio's involvement in the shoot out, police have announced that the pick up that was found with Texas plates and is registered to one of the managers of Tequila Frog's.

Local authorities have said that there is not currently enough evidence to directly link the events to a drug trafficking, and therefore there is no need to call in reinforcements from federal agencies to help with the investigation. Nevertheless, sources say that members of the Special Unit Against Organized Crime (UECCO) have begun their private investigation of the case and its possible relation to the murder of Rafael Muñoz Talavera, who was found last year assassinated in Cd. Juárez.

Also various reports have confirmed the possibility that a formal subpoena for Dante Poggio has been avoided because of his friendship with Assistant District Attorney Nahúm Nájera. At first Nájera denied any knowledge of Poggio or his family but in recent days has admitted a former acquaintance with the family and that at one time he offered them legal advice.

Regardless of the various rumors circulating about this case and its affiliation with the Juárez drug cartel, authorities have issued orders to question Poggio once his whereabouts are discovered. It is believed that Poggio might have been injured during the shootout and taken to his residence in El Paso, Texas. The Governor of Chihuahua, Patricio Martínez commented that it is very possible that the case will be officially turned over to federal agencies because the arms used in the incident are exclusive to the Mexican Army. As for the relationship between Nájera and Poggio, while Nájera denies any involvement with the family except for past, Attorney General Arturo Rascón has said that he will further the investigation and if it is found that there is indeed a linkage between the two the case will be appointed to a different office.

Source: El Diario, NORTE de Ciudad Juárez, El Paso Times

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