Verdugo Loses Bid to Dismiss Drug Charges

A U.S. District judge Friday denied a motion to dismiss drug-smuggling charges against Rene Martin Verdugo and a request by his attorney for a hearing to question six Mexican men who allegedly seized Verdugo and turned him over to U.S. law enforcement authorities.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Lasater said last month that the Drug Enforcement Administration paid $32,000 to six Mexican nationals who snatched Verdugo in San Felipe, Baja California, on Jan. 24.

Lasater said that Verdugo, 34, was handcuffed, blindfolded, put in the back seat of a car and driven to a spot about eight miles west of the Calexico port of entry, where he was turned over to U.S. marshals. Verdugo said his abductors shoved him through a hole in the border fence into the arms of waiting marshals.

Defense attorney Michael Pancer sought dismissal of the charges on the grounds that Verdugo’s apprehension was so reprehensible as to shock the conscience of the court.

Verdugo is facing two federal indictments alleging he conspired to smuggle marijuana into San Diego County. He currently is awaiting trial on charges that he smuggled a ton of marijuana from Tucson to Vista in 1983.

Last month he was indicted again on charges of conspiring in May, 1981, to ship a ton of marijuana from Ensenada to San Diego.

However, federal investigators have told The Times that Verdugo also is wanted for questioning in the kidnap-murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena. These investigators say that Verdugo was present during the torture of Camarena, who was killed last year near Guadalajara by drug traffickers.