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Mexico Busts Former Drug Czar

Former head of elite 'corruption-proof' unit accused of passing info to drug cartels

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2008 7:26 AM CST
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(Newser) – The former chief of Mexico's anti-drug operations has been arrested on suspicion of taking massive bribes from drug cartels, the Wall Street Journal reports. Noe Ramirez, accused of  pocketing $450,000 for passing information on investigations to drug kingpins, is the highest-ranking official arrested so far in "Operation Cleanup," the Mexican campaign to root out corruption that has already fingered 35 high-ranking law enforcement officials.

Ramirez ran the country's elite anti-drug agency until August, when he was selected to be Mexico's envoy to the UN's drug control office in Vienna. America's chief antidrug official praised Mexico's efforts to tackle corruption, but noted that it's likely to make US counternarcotics forces even more wary of sharing intel with their Mexican counterparts.

Soldiers display seized heroin during an anti-drug operation in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
Soldiers display seized heroin during an anti-drug operation in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Noe Ramirez, formerly head of Mexico's elite anti-drug unit, is seen in this still taken from Mexican television.
Noe Ramirez, formerly head of Mexico's elite anti-drug unit, is seen in this still taken from Mexican television.   (danieltx2007)
Federal police agents sent to join the war on drug cartels arrive at the main airport in Culiacan, Mexico earlier this year in this fili photo.
Federal police agents sent to join the war on drug cartels arrive at the main airport in Culiacan, Mexico earlier this year in this fili photo.   (AP Photo/Miguel Tovar)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Nov 24, 2008 5:15 AM CST
Bottom line is if we spent all the $ here in the US we would have less of a problem. All we have done is give the majority of the "DRUG WAR" $ to the thugs who work for these governments. They are taking the $ with both hands. This is a way of life and we don't get it . There will always be people willing to supply something with such a profit margin. So if we educated the us public over the last 30 years better , Demand would be going down, if there is no $ in it no demand then something else would be grown. That would take the $ from most gangs also, violence and drug use down and we spent most of the $ here in the us creating jobs. Add up the domestic costs(Crime,courts,jails,prisons,law enforcement to name a few) and tell me the millions going to South America, works. Smoking is not the same but look at the results of that education campaign. Oh and would that help the economy spending all that $ here on US soil? Now we have vets coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, Guess what ,Afganistan is the opiim capital of the world , what drug do you think these guys will be addicted to, when they come , somthing that even a soldier can afford perhaps? Heroin. I bet the war cost projection didn't factor in the addicted trops coming home and needing treatment. why would they think that? Military people tell you history is so important well we should have learned this from Vietnam. It's OK they can blame it on Obama. I

Informant said drug chief was part of payoff scheme
Los Angeles Times

Arrest latest of many in sweeping anti-corruption offensive
Houston Chronicle

Interpol probes Mexico leaks
CNN

 
Mexico • corruption • drug trafficking • Mexican drug war • drug cartel • counternarcotics • Sinaloa drug cartel • drug traffickers

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