TIRED OF CRITICISM, MEXICO SAYS U.S. HARDLY A HERO IN DRUG WAR

MEXICO CITY With U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey sitting nearby, Mexican
Atty. Gen. Jorge Madrazo on Tuesday criticized American law-enforcement
officials for failing to capture the leaders of one of Mexico's most
powerful drug cartels.

Veering from diplomatic protocol, Madrazo lashed out at the U.S. during a
packed news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Relations after two days
of talks between anti-drug officials from each country. During his visit,
which ended Tuesday, McCaffrey and Mexican officials worked on establishing
ways to measure each other's success in the drug war.

Appearing agitated, Madrazo said Mexico had evidence that the leaders of
the Tijuana cartel, the Arellano-Felix brothers, had spent time between
1993 and 1994 in Las Vegas, San Diego and Colorado.

"We are not satisfied with the efforts of the United States, just as the
United States is not satisfied with us, because the Arellano-Felix brothers
are still at large," he said.

McCaffrey, who joined Madrazo and Foreign Minister Rosario Green at the
news conference, said the reason drug barons could travel freely between
the countries is the size of the border. He noted that 250 million people
crossed the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border last year.

"This is the largest open border on Earth," he said.

Madrazo's criticism was startling because McCaffrey is one of Mexico's
biggest cheerleaders when it comes to the drug war.

Last year, he had to backpedal after praising Gen. Gutierrez Rebollo, then
the Mexican drug czar, whom he had characterized as a man of integrity. Not
long after taking office, Rebollo was arrested on charges of protecting
drug barons in exchange for bribes. He has been convicted and sentenced to
prison.

Madrazo's rebuke indicated the frustration Mexico and other nations feel
about the annual U.S. certification process, in which the American
president certifies whether a country has done its share in the drug war.
President Ernesto Zedillo has suggested that certification is a threat to
the sovereignty of Mexico.

Some officials consider certification hypocritical, in light of the fact
that Americans are among the biggest consumers of illegal drugs. In
February, to the chagrin of members of Congress who criticize Mexico as a
"narco-state," President Clinton certified Mexico as an ally in the war on
drugs.

Recently, the leaders of several Latin American countries have talked about
subjecting the U.S. to a certification process based on guidelines set by
the international community. At a breakfast with reporters before the news
conference, McCaffrey said he would welcome it.

"Sure, why not?" he said, adding he would be willing to share the successes
of U.S. anti-drug efforts with other countries.

He added that the U.S. and Mexico "should not beat each other up" when it
comes to the drug war but establish "effective cooperation."

Although Americans consume about 240 metric tons of cocaine annually, and
about 13 metric tons of heroin, McCaffrey noted that drug use was beginning
to spread in Mexico.