MEXICO ARRESTS TWO ALLEGED ITALIAN MAFIOSI

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities Wednesday arrested two alleged
members of the Italian Mafia on suspicion of drug trafficking after a
six-month investigation sought by three foreign governments.

The Attorney General's Office (PGR) said in a news release that its agents
arrested Italian citizens Oreste Pagano, alias Cesare Petruzzielo, and
Alberto Minelli, both of whom allegedly smuggled drugs on behalf of the
Italian Mafia.

Pagano was called ``an important Italian Mafia boss.''

The two were to be deported immediately to Italy based on immigration law
violations, the PGR said. Pagano carried a false Venezuelan passport and
Minelli had no immigration documents.

They were picked up in the Caribbean resort city of Cancun, about 800 miles
east of Mexico City, after an investigation requested by Italy, Canada and
the United States.

Mexico said that Pagano evaded police in those three countries for two years.

``This action demonstrates that coordinated operations between authorities
of several countries can produce significant results in the fight against
international organized crime,'' the PGR said.

^REUTERS@

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski