MEXICO STATE GOVERNOR SNUBS PROSECUTORS

Target Of Drug-Trafficking Probe Skips Meeting, Demands To See Case's
Proof

MEXICO CITY -- One of the highest-ranking Mexican politicians ever
named directly in a drug-trafficking probe thumbed his nose at
prosecutors Monday, skipping a scheduled meeting with federal
investigators.

Mario Villanueva, governor of tourist-rich Quintana Roo state in
southern Mexico, told prosecutors that if they want to talk, they can
find him in his statehouse office in Chetumal, about 150 miles south
of CancFAn.

The combative governor's defiance is the latest salvo in an unusually
public investigation into Mexican official corruption. Mexican
prosecutors normally wait until they're ready to indict a major drug
suspect before going public with their accusations.

But the case against Villanueva is said to be unusually strong. He has
long been rumored to be a target of federal drug investigators for
allegedly using his office to help drug traffickers move
ever-increasing amounts of U.S.-bound cocaine through CancFAn and
along Mexico's Caribbean and Gulf coasts.

With a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on whether to certify
Mexico's fight against drug traffickers scheduled to begin Wednesday,
the case against Villanueva has become the most public pursuit yet of
a top-ranking politician with alleged ties to traffickers. Under U.S.
law, decertification could lead to trade sanctions and some blocked
aid.

46or several years, as U.S. politicians have turned ever closer
scrutiny on the effectiveness of Mexico's anti-drug-traffic efforts,
rumors -- as well as anonymous statements by drug agents in the United
States and Mexico -- have focused suspicion on several state governors
and federal officials. Even the nation's defense minister was recently
named as a potential money-laundering suspect by a former U.S. drug
agent.

Most recent allegations against Mexican officials have led nowhere,
but Mexican prosecutors are said to be confident their case against
Villanueva will stick.

Mexican prosecutors ``have an extremely strong case against
Villanueva,'' said a U.S. congressional investigator who has spoken
with Mexican prosecutors about their case against the governor. ``What
Mexicans are now showing is the political decision to no longer
tolerate this type of behavior in public office.''

Mexican Attorney General Jorge Madrazo said publicly earlier this
month that Villanueva was an investigative target. Within judicial
circles, it is widely thought that prosecutors are close to seeking
Villanueva's indictment, perhaps on charges of money laundering or
abuse of power.

Mexican law-enforcement sources have said privately in recent months
that Villanueva has business partners who are close to traffickers and
that he allowed a state-owned aircraft hangar to be used by suspected
traffickers. It has also been revealed that several CancFAn-area
hotel owners were taken in for questioning about their relationships
with drug traffickers and Villanueva.

Villanueva shot back publicly at prosecutors Monday, saying their
investigation is baseless and politically motivated. In a letter to
prosecutors, Villanueva accused them of making errors in their summons
and of not showing him the evidence they've gathered, thereby giving
him the legally required information he needs to defend himself.

``How can one present proof (of innocence) without knowing the
elements of the accusations?'' asked Villanueva, who through a
spokesman declined further comment. The spokesman said Villanueva was
busy preparing for his annual State of the State address.

Prosecutors declined comment on their next move.

``This openness is doubly important,'' said Raul Plascencia, an
analyst with the Institute for Judicial Research in Mexico City.
``This may alter the way prosecutors go after elected officials in the
future. But it's also very important because of the serious nature of
the charges against an elected official like Villanueva.''

But such openness could backfire on prosecutors, said Plascencia, who
said he would have waited until an indictment was ready before
demanding that Villanueva show up to defend himself.

``I don't understand why they're handling the case this way. By
issuing this summons, under Mexican law, the defendant has the right
to not show up and instead demand that prosecutors reveal their
evidence against him. That slows down the case,'' Plascencia said.