6 TEXANS JAILED IN PROBE OF MEXICAN CARTEL

87 Others Also Charged In U.S. Investigation

Six men from South Texas -- including one who allegedly headed the U.S. arm
of a major trafficking organization -- were among 93 people arrested in a
nationwide probe of one of Mexico's largest drug cartels.

Arturo Robles Arredondo, 50; Ignacio Cantu Ambriz, 30; Juan Francisco
Gonzalez, 44; David Alvarez Landa, 39; Jose Santos Cavazos, 50 and Jose
Loreto Barrera-Rojas, 55, were named in indictments unsealed in Houston
Wednesday.

Indictments were also unsealed against the heads of major drug trafficking
cells in Chicago and San Diego after a two-year investigation by the Drug
Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs
Service and state and local law enforcement in at least three states.

"This is one of the most significant cases we've been involved in this
year," said Bob Stabe, a federal prosecutor in Houston. "It broke up a major
drug transportation group that operated in South Texas and went to different
parts of the country."

Stabe said Arredondo was responsible for coordinating the trafficking and
distribution activities of the drug empire once headed by Amado Carillo
Fuentes, who died in 1997. From his home in McAllen, Texas, Arredondo moved
marijuana and cocaine from Mexico throughout the United States.

Arredondo, Ambriz Gonzalez, Landa Cavazos and Barrera-Rojas each face a
maximum of life in prison and fines of up to $4 million.

Dubbed "Operation Impunity", the international investigation was responsible
for the seizure of nearly $20 million in cash and $7 million in other assets
from drug proceeds.

In addition to Arredondo, two other major drug figures were arrested,
officials said. Jesse Quintanilla allegedly ran a trafficking cell based in
Chicago and Jorge Ontiveros- Rodriguez directed cocaine distribution from
San Diego, according to the indictment.

"The impact of Operation Impunity is significant. By targeting the cartel's
importation, transportation and distribution network we have substantially
hindered their ability to move cocaine and other drugs into and around this
country," Attorney General Janet Reno said.

Donnie Marshall, acting administrator of the DEA, said the operation was
significant because it affected the operation from "top to bottom" affecting
everything from transportation to distribution.

Most of the arrests were in the United States, however, two suspects are in
custody in the Dominican Republic. The key lieutenant of the organization,
Gilberto Salinas-Doria was already in Mexican custody on unrelated charges.
U.S. officials have asked for Mexican assistance in locating two other
suspects who have been indicted -- Victor Ortega and Jaime Aguilar-Gastelum.

In addition to cash and other assets, agents seized more than 12,000
kilograms of cocaine and 4,800 pounds of marijuana.

Authorities also said more than $100 million in U.S. currency crossed the
border into the hands of drug lords.

Cooperation between the United States and Mexico in the war on drugs has
lagged since May 1998 after U.S. officials announced that a sting operation
had snared some 160 people suspected of laundering drug profits, including
two dozen Mexican bank executives who had been lured to the United States
and arrested.

The disclosure of the three-year probe known as "Operation Casablanca"
provoked stern criticism by Mexican officials, who objected to the use of
U.S. undercover agents in Mexico without the government's knowledge.

U.S. law enforcement officials said they didn't notify Mexico because they
feared endangering undercover agents. Mexico's anti-drug operations often
are infiltrated by drug gangs.