The Region - News from March 14, 1986

U.S. officials paid $32,000 to Mexican nationals who allegedly kidnaped an alleged drug trafficker wanted for questioning in the slaying of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena, and pushed him across the border into the arms of U.S. marshals, according to a document filed in federal court in San Diego. The document, signed by Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Lasater, said DEA officials and the U.S. Marshal’s Service paid the money to six Mexican Judicial Police officers four days after the capture of Rene Martin Verdugo of Mexicali, Mexico, suspected of having witnessed the torture-slaying of Camarena.