DEA: BORDER HIT LIST NOT YET VERIFIED

LAS CRUCES - The head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for
the El Paso sector - which includes New Mexico - said Monday that a
purported Mexican drug cartel hit list that may name more than a
dozen Americans has not been confirmed as credible since its
existence became public late last week.

"Nobody has substantiated it. In other words, if it does exist, it
hasn't gotten to us yet," said John "Jack" Riley, special agent in
charge for the El Paso DEA office.

Riley said this is the first, but not likely the last, time a
potential hit list has surfaced that names individuals living on this
side of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Our guys and our analysts and agents have not personally seen it,"
Riley said. "... That's not to say we won't be looking at it. And I
would imagine, if the trend continues, if this is accurate, it
probably won't be the last."

The possible existence of a list naming Americans or residents of the
U.S. became public Thursday evening when an El Paso television
station aired an interview with the family member of one of the 15 to
20 people reportedly on the list.

On Friday morning, Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos confirmed that
his agency had been notified of the list while denying the television
station's report that his agency had uncovered the list, which may
have come in the form of an e-mail. Cobos said the list was part of an
intelligence report provided to numerous state law enforcement
agencies by the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security.

A spokesman for state DHS declined to comment last week - citing the
pending investigation - and could not be reached Monday.

The list reportedly names individuals currently or formerly living in
Luna, Dona Ana and El Paso counties. Also on the list is at least one
name of an individual residing in Albuquerque. Two of those named are
or have been car dealers in Bernalillo and Luna counties.

None of the names have been divulged.

There have been other hit lists south of the border, in Juarez
specifically, since the beginning of the year as an escalating drug
turf war there has claimed more than 400 lives. A number on those
named on the lists, including some police officers, have been killed.

The list is the latest concern over whether drug-related violence in
Mexico can potentially make its way across the border.

If the newest list is substantiated, Riley said DEA would "do
everyting we could to protect a U.S. citizen."

"Obviously we're extremely concerned," Riley said, "and that's one of
the things that we're working very hard to make sure that these type
of things, that if they do occur, that we put every investigative
effort we can into substantiating them. If they can be substantiated,
we would take every precaution."

Other threats allegedly involving Mexican drug cartels have proven to
be a hoax.

Over the weekend, a circulated e-mail warned against an attack on
customers at El Paso's Cielo Vista Mall. The threat proved empty.

"There is no validity to the e-mail," El Paso police spokesman
Officer Chris Mears said Monday.

The El Paso Times contributed to this story