(8 Apr 1998) Span/Eng/Nat
Mexico's top anti-drug officials criticized their U-S counterparts today for failing to capture drug lords they say regularly visit the U-S.
The accusations came as U-S anti-drug chief Barry McCaffrey attended a two-day meeting in Mexico City to discuss efforts to combat U-S/Mexico border drug trafficking.
McCaffrey had earlier praised Mexico's efforts.
The tables were turned Tuesday when top Mexican officials
criticized U-S efforts against international drug trafficking.
This kind of criticism, up until now, has normally been reserved for Mexico as the two countries work to stamp out the illegal trade.
But bilateral talks in Mexico City on Tuesday set a new trend.
Barry McCaffrey, the U-S anti-drug chief known as the 'drug czar', was attending the fifth meeting of the so-called High Level Contact Group for Drug Control (H-L-C-G)
Mexico raised the issue of alleged drug kingpins the Arellano Felix brothers, who are said to be hiding in the United States.
A one (m) million U-S dollar reward for their capture has been offered.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Maybe we are not satisfied with the efforts made by the United States, just as they are not satisfied with the efforts that we made. Because physically we don't have the three Arellano Felix brothers at the moment in prison."
SUPER CAPTION: Jorge Madrazo Cuellar, Attorney General
In contrast, McCaffrey had earlier praised the efforts of his Mexican counterparts.
The U-S recently acknowledged Mexico's commitment to fighting the drug trade.
Mexico was granted so-called certification status in February and receives cash support for its efforts from the U-S.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We do believe, many of us that the evidence, the reality of genuine progress overtime will make irrelevant the US process of certification."
SUPER CAPTION: Barry McCaffrey, U-S anti-drug chief
But Tuesday's criticism reflects what remains a potentially volatile relationship between the two countries.
And harsh words were spoken against McCaffrey outside the senate buildings.
Lawyer Everardo Rojas Contreras, whose clients include the Amezcua family currently suspected of having links with Mexican druglords, called the U-S delegate a hypocrite.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"My name is Everardo Rojas Contreras and I come with the intention of telling these people that they are lying to Mexico as much they are lying to the United States, assuming that they are fighting against drugs. I can't believe that a general like McCaffrey is saying that he comes to protect democracy. The democracy is the same as the Christianity in times of the inquisition."
SUPER CAPTION: Everardo Rojas Contreras, Lawyer of Amezcua family
McCaffrey played down Tuesday's comments and suggested new ways of fighting the cartels.
Cross border narco trafficking remains a critical issue.
Fifty (b) billion U-S dollars a year are spent on illegal drugs in America.
Two-thirds of those drugs arrive via Mexico.
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