MEXICO DOUBTED AS DRUG FIGHTER `PARTNER' CHALLENGE DEVELOPS ON HILL

A challenge to President Clinton's certification of Mexico as a full
partner in the war on drugs - once considered a shoo-in for
congressional approval - is gaining momentum in the House and Senate.

Although most lawmakers believe the challenge will fail, support is
growing among both Republicans and Democrats as the 30-day deadline
for Congress' response draws near.

"Despite a long and productive relationship with our ally to the south
- - Mexico - the river of hard drugs is ending up on America's streets
and coming across the Mexican border," said Rep. John L. Mica,
Florida Republican and chairman of a House subcommittee on drug
policy. "It is difficult for me to believe this administration would
certify Mexico as fully cooperating. This is troubling."

Mr. Clinton listed Mexico among 26 countries he proposed last month
for certification as "fully cooperating" in the war on drugs. Congress
has until April 1 to ratify or reject the president's decision - and
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, has told his
GOP colleagues to move the challenge forward.

Last week, Republican Reps. Spencer Bachus of Alabama and E. Clay Shaw
Jr. of Florida introduced legislation aimed at overturning the
president's recommendation. The resolution, which calls for Mexico to
be held "accountable for a lack of results," was signed by nine
Republicans and three Democrats.

Mr. Bachus said Mexico had failed to act on 150 extradition requests;
prohibited DEA agents from carrying weapons for self-defense; showed
a decline in drug seizures, arrests and investigations; and reneged
on agreements to install ground-based anti-drug radar.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, and Paul Coverdell,
Georgia Republican, have proposed a ban on business dealings with
foreign companies that serve as smuggling fronts for drug cartels.

House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, Missouri Democrat, says
Mexico had "not yet done enough to meet the requirements of our law,"
and Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman, New York Republican and chairman of the
House International Relations Committee, vows to "lead the way"
against Mexico's certification.

Certification qualifies a country for U.S. trade and economic aid.
Only Afghanistan and Burma, which produce 90 percent of the world's
opium supply, were recommended for decertification.

While Cambodia, Haiti, Nigeria and Paraguay failed the criteria, Mr.
Clinton said U.S. national interests require certification.

Much of the congressional concern about Mexico's certification centers
on recent testimony by Thomas A. Constantine, head of the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration, who told House and Senate committees that
Mexico poses the greatest criminal threat to the United States he has
seen in his 40 years of law enforcement.

Mr. Constantine told the Senate International Narcotics Control Caucus
that the power of Mexican drug traffickers had grown "virtually
geometrically" over the past five years and that corruption among
Mexican anti-drug authorities was "unparalleled."

"In my lifetime, I have never witnessed any group of criminals that
has had such a terrible impact on so many individuals and communities
in our nation," he said, noting that despite promises by Mexico to
wage a "total war" on drug smugglers, no major traffickers had been
indicted, drug seizures had dropped significantly and the total
number of arrests had declined.

Mr. Constantine said 75 percent of the cocaine coming annually into
the United States was routed through Mexico.