MEXICANS INDIGNANT OVER DRUG STING

MEXICO CITY---After a week of complaining that U.S. of ficials cartied out
a major money-laundering sting without notifying Mexico, officials here
admitted that they had been informed---but insisted they had not approved.

The admission issued late Wednesday by the attorney general's office came
amid mounting official indignation in Mexico over "Operation Casablanca,"
including threats to prosecute U.S. agents involved in the case.

U.S. authorities arrested 160 people ---including about two dozen Mexican
bankers---and seized $87 million, 2 tons of cocaine and 4 tons of marijuana
in the operation.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)