U.S. Steps Up Anti-Drug Campaign in Mexico Despite Abduction

The director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration declared here Tuesday in the wake of the abduction of one of his agents in Mexico that he has ordered added emphasis placed on all drug investigations with Mexican connections with the aim of securing early indictments whenever possible.

Administration Director Francis M. Mullen Jr. and U.S. Ambassador John Gavin, speaking to reporters about the abduction of agent Enrique S. Camarena last Thursday, said Camarena’s whereabouts remained a mystery. The agent’s seizure was disclosed here Monday.

“We have witnesses to this effect: He was taken away in Guadalajara by armed men,” Gavin said. “We have not seen him or heard of him since.”

As a result of the abduction, Gavin issued orders for increased protection of American officials in Mexico who might be targets of anti-U.S. activity and of their families. “We are moving from any area--meaning, if necessary, moving from the Republic of Mexico--the families of agents we consider might be in jeopardy,” the American envoy said.

Mullen and Gavin emphasized that the abduction of the American narcotics agent would not deter U.S. efforts to boost the fight against the illicit drug traffic in Mexico.

Other Agencies’ Aid Sought

Mullen affirmed that he has ordered “that all DEA investigations of traffickers known to have Mexican connections be reemphasized and that we seek early indictments whenever possible. Next, we are asking other enforcement agencies in the U.S. to take the same action.”

The agency director expressed concern at Mexico’s growing importance as a source of narcotics entering the United States. “We are seeing an increasing flow of heroin to the United States,” he maintained. The percentage of heroin consumed in the United States that originates in Mexico has grown from 33% in the 1983 fiscal year to 36% in the 1984 fiscal year to 38% in the first three months of the current fiscal year.

The DEA estimates that 33% of all the cocaine entering the United States is now shipped through Mexico, although it originates elsewhere. This is a significantly higher amount than in earlier periods.

Camarena, who had worked in Guadalajara since June, 1980, was scheduled to leave for a new assignment soon. He was an “overt” agent whose role was to act as liaison with Mexican drug enforcement authorities on important narcotics cases.

$6 Million in Cash

Mullen played down reports in the U.S. news media that the incident was connected to the arrest in Texas last week of three individuals with Central American links who carried nearly $6 million in cash. “Our investigation of that incident is not yet completed and I am not in position to relate that to any activity that agent Camarena was involved in,” he said.

Other U.S. law enforcement sources said the Texas case was developed by the U.S. Customs Service, not the drug agency, and did not appear to have any connection with the Camarena abduction.

In Washington, a DEA spokesman said, “The investigation into the disappearance of the DEA agent in Guadalajara so far has established no link with the arrest and seizure in Texas last Thursday.” Asked if that meant the agent was not responsible for fingering those arrested, the spokesman said: “That’s right.”

Gavin said no communications have been received from the agent’s abductors, although the U.S. Embassy has posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to his safe recovery.