OFFICIALS DEBATE SIGNIFICANCE OF CARDENAS ARREST

Update: Soldiers Arrest Two More Cartel Agents; Raid Planned Late Saturday.

BROWNSVILLE, March 16, 2003 -- The arrest of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the
suspected kingpin of the Gulf Cartel, has been touted as a significant blow
against drug traffickers by agencies on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico
border.

But those comments haven't put everyone at ease. Despite Friday's shootout
in Matamoros that led to Cardenas' apprehension, some border residents
believe more arrests are needed to stop the violence that mars the region.

For the past 60 years, 89-year-old Julia Monsees and her family have owned a
piece of land on the southern edge of Brownsville -- 30 acres along the Rio
Grande. Ever since the drug traffic began to increase in the 1960s, she said
her land has become a popular entry point for smugglers.

That's why she never leaves the house without a 9-mm handgun.

"We've had a war out here for 15 years," said Monsees, who claims he has had
multiple confrontations with drug smugglers during that time. "You think
this is all a fairy tale until you see it."

And while the arrest of Cardenas is significant, Monsees predicts it's not
the last battle in the war on drugs.

"It's going to make a dent, but he's not the official in charge," she said,
adding that there could always be another kingpin.

That may be true, but Mexican officials are still attempting to free the
region of drugs one arrest at a time.

During a special operation Saturday morning in Matamoros, officials with the
Mexican Attorney General's Office arrested Alfonso Adrian Vazquez and
Alberto Pena Briones -- both suspected members of Cardenas' cartel.
Officials also made several seizures, including four Suburbans, 785 rounds
of semiautomatic ammunition intended for AK-47s and R15 rifles, four
grenades, 15 bullet-proof vests and other assault equipment found at a house
near the intersection of Leo Street and Avenida del Nino. The two men were
charged with carrying weapons specifically made for the Mexican Army.

And at press time, The Brownsville Herald learned that Mexican soldiers were
planning a Saturday night raid on a Reynosa colonia called Las Arboleras.
Officials, who would not disclose how many soldiers are involved, said they
suspect more than 10 cartel members are hiding out in the colonia.

Although pleased with the progress, Mexican officials realize dangers still
exist. Cardenas' remaining cartel is estimated at about 300 members, which
could prompt a widespread struggle for power that may erupt in more street
violence.

"These cartels have changed, they have fragmented, they have become more
rationalized in some aspects," Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Gerardo Vega
said. "Obviously, this makes it harder to detect who their leaders are."

The capture of Cardenas, whose cartel was so powerful it enlisted dozens of
police as bodyguards, was also good news to American officials. The drug
lord, nicknamed "El Loco," was suspected of smuggling large amounts of
narcotics into the U.S. as well as kidnapping drug enforcement agents.

"Taking out the head of the organization is a major blow," said Xavier Rios,
spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol, McAllen Sector.

But like Monsees, Rios admits the war is far from over. He noted that the
McAllen Sector, which covers all of South Texas, handles more marijuana and
cocaine busts than any of the other 20 Border Patrol sectors in the nation.

He's not sure how Cardenas' arrest might affect that drug flow.

"We've seen a decrease of the narcotics seized over the last few years,"
Rios said, "and we hope that trend continues to show a decrease."

Changes have not been that apparent for Monsees, who said marijuana and
other drugs have been coming through her land for years.

She said drug traffic has gotten so bad that agents nicknamed her street
"Mary Jane Lane" decades ago, and she still refers to it as "Marijuana
Boulevard."

"This is not fun and games; this is real out here," Monsees said. "It's
always going on, day and night."