REPORT: MEXICAN PRESIDENT'S BROTHER ORCHESTRATED DRUG TRADE

NEW YORK (AP) -- Swiss investigators have concluded that the brother
of former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari played a key
role in Mexico's cocaine trade and the flow of drugs into the United
States, The New York Times reported Saturday.

Raul Salinas, a food distribution official in his brother's
administration, controlled "practically all drug shipments through
Mexico," Swiss police concluded in the secret, 369-page report.

That control began in 1988, when Carlos Salinas became
president.

The report claims Raul Salinas took approximately $500 million in
bribes to protect the drug trade into the United States, even
commandeering government trucks and railroad cars for cocaine
shipments north. It also said he funneled drug money into his
brother's presidential campaign.

The report was denounced as false and slanderous by Raul Salinas'
attorneys, who received it two months ago.

"It contains statements, assertions and situations that do not
correspond to the facts," Eduardo Luengo Creel told the newspaper. "It
is a police report. It does not have the validity of an evaluation by
an investigating judge." Report follows 3-year inquiry The report
follows a three-year inquiry by Swiss investigators into drug
corruption in Mexico. It will be used in a civil action by the Swiss
government to confiscate $130 million Raul Salinas deposited in Swiss
bank accounts, the Times reported.

His attorneys insist the money was earned legitimately. They also
questioned the validity of a report that relies heavily on anonymous
witnesses, including convicted criminals.

The investigators were unable to conclude whether the former
president, who held office until 1994, his father and other family
members had anything to do with Raul Salinas' alleged activities.

Raul Salinas has been in prison for more than three
years.

Testimony wrapped up earlier this month in his long-running trial on
charges of masterminding the 1994 assassination of a political rival,
Jose Francisco Ruiz Massieu. A verdict is expected this fall.

Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady