De la Madrid Cuts Scope of Drug Attack

WASHINGTON — Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid said today the U.S. and Mexican governments have agreed on a program to combat drug trafficking together but strongly denied that U.S. forces will be allowed to cross into Mexico.

His position appeared to be a blow to hopes of the Reagan Administration that agreement could be reached allowing Customs Service aircraft in “hot pursuit” to chase drug smugglers up to 100 miles into Mexico.

“We are convinced of the need for more effective cooperation but with full respect for the sovereignty and the right of each nation and without allowing the public forces of another country to go into the other country when waging this battle,” De la Madrid said at a National Press Club appearance.

National Responsibility

“Agreements on cooperation that both governments have made are based on the principle that each one of the governments must assume within its own territory with its own elements the fight against drug trafficking,” he added.

A small band of conservative pickets, protesting poverty and alleged corruption in Mexico, demonstrated against De la Madrid as he arrived at the National Press Club.

“We are protesting against the socialist, closed economy state of Mexico,” demonstration organizer Maria Gonzalez said. “Mexico’s debt is $100 billion. When U.S. banks give them loans they are only investing in the government.”

Crackdown Announced

De la Madrid, who was winding up an official visit, spoke just before Vice President George Bush and Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III announced a sweeping $266-million crackdown on drugs and weapons making their way illegally across the 2,000-mile U.S. Mexican border.

The anti-drug drive will be run from a new command center in El Paso, Tex., and will involve assigning more than 350 new Customs agents and giving broader authority to 1,200 already there, as well as adding more than 200 FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service agents to the border area from Texas to San Diego.

Historic Proportions

Meese said the massive “Operation Alliance,” to be phased in over two years, “will be the most widespread interdiction program on our land borders in law enforcement history.”

Meese, who met earlier in the day with his Mexican counterpart, Atty. Gen. Sergio Garcia Ramirez, said the two agreed on the need to strengthen both sides’ efforts against smuggling.

Up to one-third of the cocaine, heroin and marijuana entering the United States is coming across the Southwest border, Meese said.

The crackdown, which actually began July 1, has kicked off with about 20 drug operations at the border already.