MEXICO TO EXTRADITE ACCUSED PUSHER

MEXICO CITY (AP) The government has authorized the first extradition of a
major Mexican drug dealer, an official confirmed Thursday, a move that could
send Jesus Amezcua to California to face federal indictments for
methamphetamine smuggling.

Mexico seldom extradites its citizens to the United States, and has never
done so with a major drug suspect. But pressure from the United States and
Mexico's own lack of success in prosecuting Amezcua and two of his brothers
apparently played a role in the decision.

"The extradition was authorized several weeks ago. We did not announce it
because Amezcua has filed an appeal against the order," a government
official said on customary condition of anonymity.

"The appeal could take weeks or months. It's a common thing; they (suspects)
usually file appeals," the official said.

The most common ground for granting such appeals any criminal charges still
pending in Mexico would not apply to Amezcua, against whom all Mexican
charges have been dismissed.

Amezcua and two of his brothers were arrested here in June. Authorities say
they headed the world's biggest methamphetamine and ephedrine trafficking
operation, which mostly targeted the United States.

U.S. drug chief Barry McCaffrey said last fall that the Amezcua brothers
"are believed to be a major threat to the U.S. people. We are keen on
seeking their extradition."

U.S. authorities said the gang also shipped methamphetamines from its Los
Angeles area labs to Dallas and then onto North Carolina for sale.

Mexico faces a key vote in the U.S. Senate in March on whether to "certify"
Mexico's anti-drug efforts. Some diplomatic sanctions would result from a
vote to decertify Mexico, although the possibility is viewed here as
unlikely.

The extradition was granted by Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretariat even
though the judge in the case ruled against it, the newspaper El Financiero
reported. The government official refused to comment on that report.

Jesus Amezcua and his brother Luis have been held on provisional extradition
warrants for several months, after judges dismissed charges of money
laundering and criminal association against them. Those dismissals
reportedly caused concern among U.S. anti-drug agencies.

A third brother, Adan, remains in a Jalisco state prison serving an 18-month
sentence for illegal possession of firearms.

Mexican officials never formally charged any of the brothers with any
drug-related offense. In interviews with local newspapers, the brothers have
denied involvement in drugs.

The extradition warrant against Luis Amezcua remains pending.

In 1996, Mexico extradited alleged cocaine cartel leader Juan Garcia Abrego
to the United States, only after producing documents showing he was a U.S.
citizen.