JUDGE MOVES AHEAD ON ARELLANO CASE

TIJUANA -- A Mexican federal judge has determined that enough evidence
exists to go ahead with court proceedings against two men suspected of
being key members of the Arellano Felix drug cartel.

Prosecutors filed drug trafficking and organized crime charges last week
against Jesus "El Chuy" Labra and Ismael Higuera, known as "El Mayel." The
judge's decision brings prosecutors a step closer to proceeding with a
trial, which would take at least a year to conclude.

Labra, considered to be the financial mastermind of the cartel, was
arrested March 11 in Tijuana as he watched his son play football. Higuera,
who allegedly ran the cartel's day-to-day operations, was arrested in
Ensenada on May 3 after soldiers raided a house where he was staying.