MEXICAN DRUG AGENTS HELD FOR 'KIDNAPPING'

TIJUANA, Mexico---In a new case raising friction between American and
Mexican law enforcement officials, two Mexican drug enforcement agents are
in jail here on kidnapping charges that appear to have been trumped up by
corrupt police officers working with traffickers.

The two Mexican agents, part of an anti-drug unit that works closely with
U.S. officials, were preparing to buy a ton of marijuana from Tijuana
traffickers as part of a buy-and-bust operation when they were arrested by
Baja California state policemen who were summoned by one of the
traffickers.

The traffickers, a father and son, have made protection payments to the
state police, according to sworn testimony and Mexican and American
government documents in court files here.

"The whole thing smells," said an American official farniliar with the
case. Several U.S. officials portrayed the arrest as the latest example of
how pervasive corruption frustrates attempts to work with Mexican law
enforcement.

The U.S. officials are particularly perplexed because several Mexican
Federal Police took part alongside the state police in atresting men who
are, tech nically, their own colleagues.