DATE=4/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229347
TITLE=MCCAFFREY/DRUGS (L)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U.S. DRUG CZAR GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY, WHO HAS BEEN IN 
MEXICO FOR THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE BI-NATIONAL HIGH LEVEL 
CONTACT GROUP, SAYS THAT AUTHORITIES ARE FACING A NEW THREAT IN 
DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING:  NEARLY INSTANT TRANSFERS OF ILLEGAL CASH 
WITH THE CLICK OF A COMPUTER MOUSE.  JAMES BLEARS IN MEXICO CITY 
REPORTS.

TEXT: MEXICO FORMULATED DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING LAWS LESS THAN 
THREE YEARS AGO.  THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN A NUMBER OF CROSS 
BORDER INVESTIGATIONS WHICH HAVE LED TO SCORES OF ARRESTS.

HOWEVER, GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAYS THAT THE TRAFFICKERS ARE NOW 
FAVORING COMPUTERIZED TRANSFERS OF MONEY RATHER THAN STASHING IT 
IN BANKS, AND THIS IS PROVING A PROBLEM FOR BOTH U-S AND MEXICAN 
AUTHORITIES.

                       ///MCCAFFREY ACT///

         THE EASIEST THING TO CLEAN UP IS THE BANKING SYSTEM. 
         THAT IS UNDERWAY. THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES ARE THE NEW 
         FORMS INCLUDING WIRE TRANSFER OF MONEY, CYBER CASH AND 
         THE PHYSICAL MOVEMENT OF MONEY.

                          ///END ACT///

THE HIGH LEVEL CONTACT GROUP HAS BEEN DISCUSSING A U-S ANTI-DRUG 
SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT CALLED "THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF 
EFFECTIVENESS," WHICH HAS BEEN USED FOR A YEAR, NORTH OF THE 
BORDER.  GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAID THAT IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO 
INTERPRET AND ASSESS HOW EFFECTIVE THIS TOOL WOULD BE IF IT WERE 
EXTENDED TO MEXICO. 

GENERAL MCCAFREY EXPLAINED HOW FRUSTRATING THE ANTI DRUG EFFORTS 
CAN BE.  HE SAID THAT A POWERFUL X-RAY MACHINE, AT ONE BORDER 
CROSSING, HAD RESULTED IN THE CLOSING OF THIS SMUGGLING LOOPHOLE 
ONLY FOR IT TO APPEAR ELSEWHERE.

                   ///MCCAFFREY SECOND ACT///

         THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT IS SO EFFECTIVE THAT DRUG 
         SMUGGLERS HAVE MOVED TO OTHER PORTS OF ENTRY.

                          ///END ACT///

THE MEXICAN DRUG GANGS ARE AMONG THE MOST VIOLENT IN THE WORLD. 
THE MOST NOTORIOUS ONE IS THAT OF THE ARRELLANO FELIX BROTHERS 
BASED IN TIJUANA.  THEY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDERS OF 
SCORES OF POLICE AND JUSTICE OFFICIALS AND EVEN AN ARCHBISHOP.

GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAYS THAT CONCERTED EFFORTS AND COMBINED 
INTELLIGENCE ARE CLOSING IN ON THE ARRELLANO FELIX BROTHERS. 

                    ///MCCAFFREY THIRD ACT///

         I WOULD ASSERT THAT THERE IS A BLOW TORCH OF HEAT ON 
         THAT CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION AMONG OTHERS.

                          ///END ACT///

YET THE FACT REMAINS THAT RAMON ARRELLANO FELIX HAS BEEN ON THE 
F-B-I'S TEN MOST WANTED LIST FOR MONTHS, AND NEITHER HE NOR ANY 
OF HIS BROTHERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/TMD-T/PLM

07-Apr-98 7:07 PM EDT (2307 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.