DATE=2/19/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-210279

TITLE=DRUGS / GENERAL (L)

BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS

DATELINE=MEXICO CITY

INTRO: MEXICO'S TOP DRUG-BUSTING OFFICIAL HAS, HIMSELF, BEEN

ARRESTED ON CHARGES HE HAS BEEN IN LEAGUE WITH ONE OF THE

COUNTRY'S NOTORIOUS DRUG TRAFFICKERS. JAMES BLEARS HAS THIS

REPORT.

TEXT: THE CHARGES ARE LEVELED AGAINST GENERAL JESUS GUTIERREZ

REBOLLO -- THE HEAD OF MEXICO'S ANTI-DRUG COMMISSION, WHICH IS

DIRECTLY AFFILIATED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. HE HAS

HELD THAT POST SINCE DECEMBER NINTH. HE IS ACCUSED OF

ASSOCIATION WITH AMADO CARILLO FUENTES WHO IS SAID TO BE ONE OF

MEXICO'S MOST-NOTORIOUS DRUG TRAFFICKERS. PART OF THE

ACCUSATIONS ALSO TO REFER SHIPMENTS OF COCAINE. OFFICIALS SAY

THE FILE REMAINS OPEN FOR FURTHER POSSIBLE CHARGES.

CONFRONTED WITH ALL OF THIS, GENERAL GUTIERREZ REBOLLO COLLAPSED.

HE WAS TAKEN TO MEXICO CITY'S PRINCIPAL MILITARY HOSPITAL, WERE

HE REMAINS UNDER CLOSE GUARD. HE HAS A HISTORY OF DIABETES.

OFFICIAL REACTION TO THIS POLITICAL BOMBSHELL HAS BEEN SWIFT.

PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO -- WHO HAS PLACED THE COMBATTING OF

ILLEGAL DRUGS TOP OF HIS LAW-AND-ORDER AGENDA -- SAYS NO ONE IN

MEXICO, NO MATTER WHAT THERE SOCIAL STATUS OR WEALTH, IS ABOVE

THE LAW. HE SAYS THE SCANDAL COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE, IF IT

HAD NOT BEEN REVEALED. HE STRESSED THE ARMY STILL ENJOYS HIS

FULL CONFIDENCE. GENERAL ENRIQUE CERVANTES AGUIRRE, WHO IS HEAD

OF MEXICO'S ARMED FORCES, SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO BREAK WHAT HE

CALLS THIS TYPE OF ORGANIZED CRIME IS TO FIGHT IT OPENLY.

GENERAL GUTIERREZ REBOLLO IS THE MOST-PROMINENT MEXICAN OFFICIAL

TO BE CHARGED WITH DRUG CRIMES. BECAUSE OF THE POSITION HE HELD,

IT IS A CONSIDERABLY EMBARRASSMENT FOR MEXICO WHICH IS AWAITING

ITS ANNUAL DRUG CERTIFICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES. ANOTHER

GENERAL, TITO VALENCIA ORTIZ, HAS BEEN APPOINTED INTERIM DRUG

CZAR.

(SIGNED)

NEB / JB / AC-T / WD

19-Feb-97 4:12 AM EST (0912 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America