MEXICO AND DRUGS

Why are U.S., Mexican investigators lagging Swiss?

Mexico City and Washington have been outspoken in their condemnation
of international drug trafficking for years. But the chest thumping
has not kept critics from asking whether official actions have always
lived up to official rhetoric. Unfortunately, skepticism will only
grow if a troubling new Swiss report related to the Mexico-U.S. drug
trade withstands scrutiny.

The pending release of the Swiss investigation into the alleged ties
of Raul Salinas de Gortari to Mexican and Colombian drug cartels
promises to be explosive. Leaked information is already reviving
questions about high-level Mexican corruption. And it may shed new
light on allegations that the older brother of President Carlos
Salinas de Gortari laundered tens of millions of drug dollars through
his bank of choice, Citicorp.

Mexico in particular will have the burden of establishing the veracity
of the following allegations:

* That Raul Salinas received more than $500 million in bribes for
helping protect drug shipments through Mexico, especially after his
brother became president in 1988.

* That millions in drug money went to Carlos Salinas' 1988
presidential campaign.

* That the father of Raul and Carlos Salinas, Raul Salinas Lozano,
introduced both his sons to the drug trade as early as the 1970s.

In denying all this, Raul Salinas' attorneys argue that police
investigators are not judges and jury. Besides, the Swiss case is a
civil one, so investigators are being held to a lower burden of proof
than in a criminal case.

That's true. But U.S. law enforcement officials are giving credit
where credit is due. The New York Times quotes one U.S. official
familiar with the findings as saying the Swiss have built a "triable"
case.

Meanwhile, in Baja California last week, 19 men, women and children
were massacred - all thought to be the relatives of an alleged drug
dealer. Police and troops immediately expanded their presence in
Ciudad Juarez for fear of drug cartel reprisals. Mexican authorities
will distinguish themselves if they nab the killers, but that will not
absolve them of the need to complete the investigation of Raul Salinas
that began in 1995.

Whatever Mexico chooses to do, the Swiss investigation of Raul Salinas
should serve as a wake-up call to Washington. Building on new evidence
provided by the Swiss, the Clinton administration again should call
for full cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement
officials. At the same time, the Justice Department should revive and
refine its probe into Mr. Salinas' alleged money laundering, until it
runs like a Swiss watch.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady