U.S. IS LOOKING TO MEXICO TO BOLSTER BORDER SECURITY

Some U.S. Officials Worry That Lax Controls Will Allow Terrorists To Stage
Future Attacks

MATAMOROS, Mexico - Smuggling has always thrived along the U.S.-Mexico
border, where money can buy passage for almost anything.

Now, as the United States beefs up security after the Sept. 11 attacks,
Mexico's endemic lawlessness has raised concerns that terrorists could use
the country's organized crime networks to stage future attacks against the
United States.

The United States and Mexico are discussing border security, and the two
countries are expected to reach an agreement next year, following a recent
U.S.-Canada accord to fight terrorism along the U.S. northern frontier.

"Mexico will not be a place of residency for terrorists nor a place of
transit," Mexican President Vicente Fox said during a recent trip to Tijuana.

But Fox has struggled to halt widespread corruption and bring down deadly
cartels. In December, five federal agents and two state police officers in
Reynosa were arrested for working for one of Mexico's most-wanted drug
lords, Osiel Cardenas.

There is no evidence that terrorists have staged attacks against the United
States from Mexico. But even without corruption, government officials on
both sides of the border have expressed concerns about Mexico's lax
security and lawless culture.

Ruben Garza, a regional supervisor for Mexico's Comptroller's office, said
there are periods when no one is watching luggage move through X- ray
machines at Tijuana's airport.