11 March 2002

U.S. Officials Hail Mexico's Capture of Major Drug Lord

Washington -- U.S. officials are hailing Mexico's arrest of a major drug lord, with the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) calling it a "great day" for law enforcement, the Mexican government, and the citizens of the United States.

DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson said in a March 9 statement that the capture of Benjamin Arellano-Felix by Mexican officials that day had been a priority of DEA and Mexican authorities since 1992. The DEA said Arellano-Felix, along with four of his brothers, headed what is considered to be one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in the world.

Benjamin Arellano-Felix had been considered the patriarch of the family and the leader of its drug-trafficking activities. One brother, Ramon, was believed to have been killed February 10 in a shoot-out with authorities in Mazatlan, Mexico, a fact that Benjamin acknowledged to Mexican authorities upon his arrest, the DEA said.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher began his regular noon briefing March 11 by congratulating the Mexican government for the arrest of Arellano-Felix.

"This is a great victory for Mexican law enforcement," Boucher said. "The Arellano-Felix organization is one of the most violent and brutal cartels in the world. They're also responsible for shipping tons and tons of drugs into the United States." The arrest of Benjamin Arellano-Felix, Boucher continued, is the "most significant arrest ever" of a wanted drug trafficker in Mexico.

The arrest, said Boucher, also advances the bilateral Mexico-U.S. effort "to dismantle a violent and powerful trans-border criminal organization."

Boucher said the United States "strongly supports the continued efforts of the government of Mexico against the drug cartels and their leadership." Boucher said that under Mexican President Vicente Fox, Mexican authorities "have stepped up their anti-drug efforts and taken actions against narcotics-related corruption."

Boucher added that improved cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies has resulted in increased drug seizures, including several multi-ton seizures of cocaine, and arrests of significant traffickers from all the major cartels.

Benjamin Arellano-Felix had been indicted in the Southern District of California for cocaine trafficking and money laundering violations. Recognizing the significance of this Mexican drug cartel, Hutchinson had organized a DEA task force to exchange information and to pool assets with Mexico to aid in the capture. DEA said Arellano-Felix's capture in Puebla, Mexico, will have a significant effect on the organization's ability to ship cocaine into the United States and elsewhere.

Hutchinson said he was "ecstatic" with the Mexican government's work on the case and its continued cooperation with the United States on "matters of such great importance," adding: "We will continue our cooperative efforts until all chief members of this notorious organization are brought to justice."

Hutchison said his office will pursue efforts to extradite Benjamin Arellano-Felix to the United States to face charges.