FIRST REMAINS FOUND IN MEXICO

The FBI And Mexican Authorities Have Begun Their Probe Of Two Mass
Graves Discovered Near The National Border.

WASHINGTON - The first human remains were recovered Tuesday from two
Mexican ranches where the bodies of more than 100 people linked to drug
smuggling operations are believed to be buried, the FBI said.

Mexican authorities said that that mass graves on two ranches across the
border from El Paso, Texas, includes 22 Americans, but U.S. officials said
that has not been confirmed.

"We need to let this develop," before the precise number of victims is
known, said Assistant FBI Director Thomas Pickard. "We believe these people
were killed for their knowledge or for being witnesses to drug trafficking
endeavors."

Pickard said it is a "pretty good assumption" that Americans were among the
victims given "the proximity of the border."

But the evidence indicates that the victims "were buried there at least two
to three years ago, so it's not a recent situation," Pickard said.

At the request of Mexico, the FBI is sending 68 agents and forensic experts
to the sites, including teams which have just recently returned from a
grisly hunt for victims in Kosovo.

The recovery of remains would be a protracted process, according to U.S.
officials. To preserve evidence and possibly aid in identifying victims,
ground-piercing radar that gives a picture of what lies beneath the surface
is being used to document the scene, Pickard said.

"It is a very elaborate process," Pickard said. Digging started late
Monday, and one partial remain has been recovered, he said.

Pickard refused to reveal what led to the discovery of the bodies.

"We've been discussing this for a period of time with the Mexicans,"
Pickard said. "We developed some information and provided them with
information, and they went and developed their own information."

He would not confirm reports from other U.S. officials that an FBI
informant's tip initiated the probe.

Mexican Attorney General Jorge Madrazo said Tuesday that he believes 22 of
the victims are U.S. citizens, but President Clinton said he has no
confirmation on whether Americans are among the victims.

"I think it reinforces the imperative of our trying not only to protect our
border but to work with the Mexican authorities to try to combat these,"
Clinton said. "There are organized criminal operations there and they are
particularly vicious."

Pickard declined to comment on reports that some of those killed might have
been providing information to U.S. law enforcement authorities. But he said
that none of the victims are FBI or Drug Enforcement Administration
personnel. "None of our personnel is missing," he said.

The area across the border from El Paso is the domain of a Mexican drug
organization dubbed the Juarez Cartel, according to DEA officials in
Washington. The cartel was considered the premier cocaine smuggling
operation in Mexico, and was responsible for much of the cocaine and other
drugs passing into the United States across the Southwest border.

In 1997, the head of that large and violent group, Amado Carrillo Fuentes,
died after botched plastic surgery designed to disguise his identity.

That touched off a series of battles and assassinations over control of his
empire, officials said. It is believed that some of those buried on the two
ranches died in those confrontations, according to U.S. authorities.

In late September, Attorney General Janet Reno announced the end of a
two-year investigation that dismantled a key component of the cartel,
leading to 90 arrests and the seizure of 13 tons of cocaine, two tons of
marijuana and $19 million.

The FBI said Tuesday that those with information about the killings, or
seeking information about missing family members should call 1-800-338-5856
if in the United States or call 01-880-338-5856 if in Mexico.