BORDER INSPECTORS HELD IN DRUG CASE

Accused of ignoring cocaine hauls into U.S.

TUCSON - Mexican drug lords paid huge bribes to U.S. border inspectors in
Nogales to help smuggle an estimated 20 tons of cocaine into Arizona before
the operation was shut down this week, according to federal investigators.

Three inspectors from the Immigration and Naturalization Service were led
into the U.S. District Court here in shackles, hours after their arrests on
bribery and drug charges. Investigators also arrested a former INS
inspector, along with five people reputedly tied to major narcotics cartels.

"The integrity of the justice system depends on rooting out corruption at
all levels," said Jose de Jesus Rivera, U.S. Attorney for Arizona. "When
people see law enforcement that's corrupt, it affects the whole nation."

Stephen Fickett, district director for the INS, said there are more than
3,000 inspectors in Arizona, "and it is a shame that the actions of a few
will tarnish so many."

Fickett said Border Patrol agents and inspectors are under tremendous
pressure because of the danger inherent to their jobs, but also because of
cash temptation held out by narcotics smugglers.

""There is constant pressure on our employees to take those bribes," Fickett
added. "We will cut out the corruption. We will cut out the rot."

Authorities said the border inspectors operated independently and apparently
were unaware of each others' activities. They said the indictments, after
more than a year of investigations, prove that drug-enforcement efforts are
working, and set an example for other law officers who may be tempted.

Rivera said he believes the case, dubbed "Operation Ghost Boat," puts a
crimp in the cocaine pipeline across Arizona's border. But officials
acknowledged that although 2,500 pounds of cocaine were impounded in a pair
of seizures, an additional 37,500 pounds made it into Arizona.

They also conceded that they have no idea how many other law officers may be
on the take.

The indictments were handed up Jan. 27, but kept sealed until Tuesday. All
nine suspects live in the Nogales area.

The INS inspectors who were arrested are:

Robert Ronquillo-Rojas, 33, accused of taking more than $32,000 in bribes to
allow drug-laden vehicles through a Nogales checkpoint last year. Ronquillo,
who had worked at the border 12 years, is also charged with attempting to
distribute cocaine.

Rafael Landa, 50, faces charges that he collected $30,000 for allowing
vehicles into the country with cocaine in June and September of last year.
But investigators believe his total take was more than $300,000.

Landa, who worked on the Nogales border 21 years, also is accused of
attempting to import and distribute cocaine.

Maria de Los Angeles Alabado, 37, is accused of taking bribes in return for
issuing entry permits to immigrants.

Jesus Corrella, 41, a former INS employee at the Nogales port of entry,
reputedly accepted $75,000 in return for allowing a 1,289-pound shipment of
cocaine through the border in June of 1996.

Although vehicle inspections are the domain of U.S. Customs agents, law
officers along the border are routinely cross-trained. Officials said it was
routine for INS inspectors to check automobiles.

A bribery conviction carries maximum penalties of up to 15 years in prison
plus fines of $250,000. The drug charges could bring maximum penalties of 40
years in prison and $2 million in fines.

In addition to the law enforcement officials, indictments were handed up
against Jose Quiroz-Gonzalez, 48, and Fernando Suarez, 36, for conspiracy to
import and possess 1,200 pounds of cocaine; Theresa Estrada-Portillo, 35,
for conspiracy to possess cocaine; and Roberto Terrazas-Aviles, 40, and
Victoria Perez Abreu Sepulveda, 34, for conspiracy to possess marijuana and
the importation of 275 pounds of marijuana in 1998.

Investigators said those suspects have ties to the Rafael Caro Quintero and
Amado Carillo Fuentes cartels, two of Mexico's narcotics syndicates.