SIX LINKED TO DRUG CARTEL ARE ARRESTED

Cash, Firearms And Pot Are Confiscated

TIJUANA -- Federal authorities have arrested six more men, including a
federal police officer, as part of an ongoing investigation of the Arellano
Felix drug cartel's operations in Mexicali.

The men allegedly transported drugs to the United States and provided
information and protection to higher-level members of the drug
organization. Federal investigators also confiscated $2.5 million, 19
firearms and 902 grams of marijuana.

Federal officials in charge of the investigation were not available for
comment and provided information only through a press release. But Enrique
Tellaeche, spokesman for the Baja California Attorney General's Office,
called the arrests a good move.

"Evidently, this is a strong blow made by the federal authorities as a
result of their investigations," he said.

The violent Arellano Felix cartel is believed to maintain a firm grip over
most of the drug trade along the Baja California border, despite the arrest
last year of two high-level operatives: Jesus Labra Aviles, alias "El
Chuy," and Ismael Higuera Guerrero, alias "El Mayel."

Earlier this month, military officers tried to nab Higuera's brother,
Gilberto Higuera Guerrero. "El Gilillo" is believed to be playing a more
important role in the drug trafficking organization since his brother's
imprisonment.

Officers pursuing Gilberto Higuera Guerrero during a Feb. 12 car chase were
forced to stop by local police, and he escaped.

The interference prompted an outcry from some suspicious state officials,
but Mexicali officials said the local police didn't intentionally interfere
with the chase.

Although the military failed to catch Gilberto Higuera Guerrero, they did
manage to capture a man who was allegedly with him in the Dodge Ram during
the chase. Miguel Angel Fernandez Loera was also apparently working for the
cartel and was carrying credentials connecting him with various law
enforcement organizations. Fernandez is now in a Mexico City prison.

The six men arrested over the past week are:

- - Miguel Angel Garcia Serrano, a federal police officer who was allegedly
providing protection and information to both of the Higuera brothers.

- - Moises Robles Vizcaino, who supposedly falsified documents for the cartel.

- - Alfonso Henke Ponce, Ricardo Osuna Tirado and Jesus Antonio Tirado Tapia,
who allegedly helped transport cocaine and marijuana to the United States.

- - Jose Luis Felix Lerma, who was in charge of guarding drugs in Mexicali homes.

A Tijuana-based human rights activist who follows the drug trafficking
culture, Victor Clark, said though the arrests may be impressive, such
victories are frequently short-lived.

"Important people have been arrested before, but the cartels keep
functioning because there are others who will fill their places," he said.
"The cartels have an extraordinary capacity to reproduce themselves."