[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 115 (Thursday, September 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9151-S9153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MEXICAN PROGRESS IN THE DRUG WAR

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I have come to this Chamber because I 
want to make a few comments of welcome to President Vicente Fox. I had 
the pleasure of speaking with him at Secretary Powell's lunch yesterday 
and listening to him in the House of Representatives in the joint 
session this morning.

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  Because I have been critical of Mexico's efforts to stop drug 
trafficking, their unwillingness to arrest cartel leaders, to 
vigorously prevent the laundering of drug money, their refusal to 
extradite a single Mexican national on drugs charges, and because of 
the widespread corruption within the ranks of Mexican law enforcement, 
I thought I should come to the Chamber today while President Fox is in 
our country to say recent reports I have had indicate there has been 
truly a dramatic change in Mexico.
  I believe he is to be commended for that. It looks as if he is 
responsible for an entirely new attitude on the part of his country in 
the fight against drugs. I wish to take a few moments to commend him 
and to say how important this is to the United States and to the people 
of this country.
  We all recognize that we have a demand problem in this country. In 
fact, there is even a growing demand problem in Mexico today as well. 
But, nevertheless, the flood of narcotics across the border represents 
a major problem for both our nations. It brings with it also collateral 
problems in the United States and in Mexico: violence, corruption, and 
even, as we have seen, the brutal torture and murder of 
literally hundreds of public officials, judges, prosecutors, 
journalists, and any who dare either to cross the cartels or stand in 
their way.

  It is fair to say that these major consequences of the drug trade 
require that we solve the problem together. Simply put, the Fox 
administration has made more progress in the war against drugs over the 
last 6 months than the Government of Mexico made over the previous 9 
years.
  I would like to share some examples, some specifics, if you will, of 
the progress made by Mexico through the leadership of this brave new 
President.
  Prior to the Fox administration, not one major Mexican national drug 
cartel member had ever been extradited to the United States on drug 
charges--not one, ever--despite a whole list of pending requests.
  Since President Fox took office, however, this has changed 
dramatically. In fact, I had the privilege, at the Davos World Economic 
Summit, in January, to meet briefly with President Fox. At that time I 
handed to him directly a list of requested extraditions, prepared by 
our Drug Enforcement Administration. He said he would take action. I 
did not really believe him at the time, but he has.
  After years of court battles, earlier this year the Mexican Supreme 
Court ruled that Mexican nationals could, indeed, be extradited to the 
United States.
  Since January, 14 fugitives have been extradited to our country from 
Mexico. Four of these were Mexican nationals, and three of the four, 
for the first time, were Mexican nationals extradited on major drug 
charges. That may not sound like much, but I can assure you it is a big 
deal, because many of us who have worked in this area for years believe 
extradition is a major deterrent to the cartel leadership.
  The defendant in the Supreme Court case, Everardo Arturo Paez 
Martinez, is a key member of the Arellano Felix cartel. The United 
States has been requesting his extradition for years. He was extradited 
to the United States to stand trial. He is here today.
  Miguel Angel Martinez-Martinez, an accused drug trafficker, was 
extradited and is awaiting trial in San Diego. Martinez is a principal 
figure in the Joaquin ``Chapo'' Guzman Organization. This Sinaloa-based 
cartel is believed responsible for smuggling tons of cocaine and other 
illicit narcotics into the United States over many years, and for 
trying to build a 1,400-foot tunnel from Tijuana to Otay Mesa in 
California.
  Rafael Camarena Marcias has also been extradited to the United 
States. He was responsible for successfully building a tunnel between 
Agua Prieta, Senora, and Douglas, AZ, through which up to 2 tons of 
cocaine flowed every day.
  Extradition has always been the most visible and effective sign of 
how seriously the Mexican Government is taking the fight against drug 
cartels. I am very proud to say thank you to President Fox and to the 
Government of Mexico for their cooperation in this regard.
  It is not easy for Mexico to target these individuals and send them 
to the United States for trial. It is politically difficult, for many 
in Mexico do not believe that Mexican citizens should face trial in the 
United States, and it is difficult for personal safety reasons as well.
  Let me give an example. The lawyer who represented Everardo Arturo 
Paez in opposing extradition for 3 years and who failed to prevent his 
extradition was found murdered. That is the reward for not succeeding 
with a cartel. I am told that others may well be in personal jeopardy 
as well.
  President Fox's leadership has given the entire country new courage 
to stand against the cartels, their killers, and their traffickers.
  In addition to extraditing those already under arrest, the Mexican 
Government has also made new arrests of certain leaders of Mexican 
cartels. Adan Amezcua, one of the three Amezcua brothers, was arrested 
in 1997, but he was freed by a corrupt judge who has since been fired 
from the bench. Amezcua was rearrested by Mexican officials this past 
May.
  Why are they important? The Amezcua brothers are major 
methamphetamine traffickers. They are responsible single-handedly for 
the introduction of methamphetamine throughout this country. Indeed, 
the cartel and its nationals still run meth labs throughout the United 
States.
  In cooperation, the Governor of Quintana Roo, Mario Villaneuva, who 
was arrested while he was still Governor, asked to serve out his term 
of Governor of Quintana Roo, and then he disappeared the day after he 
left office and has been gone. Well, he was arrested in May for major 
drug crimes in Cancun, and today he is in a maximum security prison in 
Mexico.
  In February, the Government dismantled an entire cell of the Arellano 
Felix cartel, perhaps the most vicious cartel operating right out of 
Tijuana. They arrested 7 of its leaders. They seized 8 houses, 18 
vehicles, 19 firearms, and communication devices.
  Seizures of illegal drugs have been on the rise. Some of them are at 
an all-time high. In February, the Mexican Government seized 14 tons of 
marijuana in cookie boxes; in April, another 131 tons. In February, 
they seized 8.8 tons of cocaine aboard the fishing vessel Forever My 
Friend, and the 10 crew members have been transported to San Diego; in 
May, another 12 tons of cocaine aboard a vessel flying a Belize flag. 
Overall, this past year, 24 tons of cocaine have been seized from 
fishing vessels as a result of cooperation between Mexico and the 
United States.
  The Mexican Government has also addressed the serious issue of 
internal corruption. The captain of the Mexican Army, Luis Rey Abundis 
Murga, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for assisting the Carillo 
Fuentes cartel. Retired general, Jorge Mariano Maldanado Vega was 
sentenced to 26 years for aiding the same organization. And Mario Silva 
Calderon, former agent of Mexico's national police, was sentenced to 36 
years in prison for similar activity.
  As Donnie Marshall, former head of the DEA, testified before the drug 
caucus earlier this year, no one country can possibly combat the wealth 
and sophistication of these major drug trafficking organizations. Only 
by cooperating and sharing locally gathered intelligence and assets can 
we hope to succeed.
  That is why I am so encouraged by the progress being made by the Fox 
administration.
  In the past I know that American law enforcement and even Mexican law 
enforcement felt that the other side could not be trusted. Now finally 
that is changing. A new 117-member Mexican organized crime unit, which 
works hand in hand with our DEA, has fostered new relationships and 
trust between the law enforcement agencies of our two nations. It is 
only with this type of cooperation that we can hope to defeat the drug 
cartels and stem the flow of illegal drugs onto the streets.
  Before I yield the floor, I would like to address one request 
President Fox made earlier today regarding passage of S. 219, the Dodd 
certification legislation.
  Let me be clear: I continue to support the certification process. We 
have nothing to replace it. I happen to believe it has some salutary 
value. Because President Fox has asked, I would

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be prepared to support a suspension of the certification process with 
regard to Mexico for the 3 years as requested by President Fox. I would 
do so because he asks and in the new spirit of cooperation between our 
two nations. I would be very pleased to work with my colleagues to pass 
such legislation immediately.
  I am not, however, prepared to abandon the process entirely with 
respect to all countries, as S. 219 would do. There are many places in 
the world where progress has not been made. Syria, Iran, Burma, and 
Afghanistan are just a few examples of continuing major problem 
countries. Only a robust certification process gives Congress and the 
President the tools we need to encourage change in these nations.
  I hope the Senator from Connecticut would work with me on a 
compromise that would address only Mexico so we can move forward on 
this issue.
  In closing, I again welcome President Fox to the United States. We 
look forward to working with him in our continuing mutual fight against 
the drug cartels. I personally, deeply, say thank you and salute this 
brave and courageous new President.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from California for 
her fine words. It was a superb speech President Fox gave today in 
joint session.

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