U.S., MEXICO INDICT BROTHERS ON MONEY, DRUG CHARGES

Attorney General John Ashcroft and his Mexican counterpart, Rafael Macedo
de la Concha, unveiled a new criminal indictment Tuesday against three
brothers accused of heading one of Mexico's most violent and powerful drug
gangs.

The Arellano Felix brothers -- Benjamin, Eduardo and Francisco -- and eight
of their subordinates are accused of ordering a series of killings to
consolidate their control of the flow of narcotics into the United States.

The 11 suspects are charged with racketeering, conspiracy to import and
distribute drugs, and money laundering. U.S. authorities also are seeking
$289 million in cash and property allegedly acquired through the drug trade.

Prosecutors also said they had evidence the cartel held meetings in Mexico
with a representative of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the
rebel group known as the FARC, to discuss a proposed trade of weapons for
cocaine. The deal was thwarted by the 2000 arrest of Ismael Higuera
Guerrero, the cartel's top lieutenant, in Mexico, authorities said.