Mexcio's Ernesto Zedillo: I WANT JUSTICE

Just three days before the arrest of Cali chieftain Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela in Colombia, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo discussed his nation's involvement in the drug war with a group of TIME journalists. Meeting with Zedillo in his office at the Los Pinos presidential residence were managing editor James R. Gaines, editor at large Karsten Prager and Latin American bureau chief Laura Lopez.

TIME: How do drug trafficking and drug money affect government?

Zedillo: We know that the traffickers move huge amounts of money, most of which doesn't remain in Mexico. The bulk of the money stays in either the consuming or the producing countries. Mexico is mainly a place of transit. I don't think the drug business is meaningful for our economy, but it is meaningful to the extent that it brings with it violence, crime and corruption. We have many former policemen in jail because of links to drug trafficking, but we don't have hard evidence on whether the traffickers have penetrated other spheres of power. There are rumors, there are accusations, but we haven't much hard evidence to prove anything and therefore to prosecute.

TIME: Why do you say the drug business is Mexico's No. 1 security problem?

Zedillo: Because of the violence it carries with it, because we know the experiences of other countries in which drug trafficking has grown. Little by little the traffickers penetrate institutional structures, starting with the justice system, and we have to stop it before it becomes a bigger problem.

TIME: If you know where the drug kingpins are, why don't you just go in and get them?

Zedillo: I don't know where they are. If I knew, I would immediately order the Attorney General to jail them. If you could give me that information, I would be most pleased to use it and wouldn't reveal my source.

TIME: What can the U.S. do that it is not doing to help on the American or the Mexican side of the border?

Zedillo: We have made tremendous progress over the past few months. One of the instruments for Mexico to fight drug trafficking and organized crime is greater collaboration with the U.S. government. We want intense cooperation. Our Attorney General has worked on developing a new relationship with the U.S. Attorney General's office. As you know, there are historic complaints on this side. Mexicans feel that our effort to fight drugs and organized crime in terms of the size of our country and the resources available is much bigger than the effort made in the U.S. Mexicans keep wondering why we seize cocaine, why we arrest corrupt policemen, and why that seldom happens in the U.S.

TIME: Where does the flow of information between Mexico and the U.S. break down?

Zedillo: I cannot say. I have advised my Attorney General to have his U.S. contact as high as possible so that we don't have leaks. That has always been a problem, and I wouldn't like to place blame on any side. I also think we have to put order in our own house. We have severe problems in the Attorney General's office, historical problems.

TIME: Of corruption?

Zedillo: Yes.