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This article from today's paper is also revealing about the high level of drug smuggling all along the US border with Mexico. It isn't affected much by Sept 11.

Capture of cartel chief unlikely to affect city
Diana Washington Valdez

The Juárez-El Paso corridor, which is dominated by the Carrillo Fuentes drug organization, likely won't see any change as a result of Saturday's capture of Benjamin Arellano Felix, leader of the Tijuana drug cartel, former DEA Special Agent Phil Jordan said.

"The Southwest border is more affected by the Carrillo Fuentes Juárez drug cartel than by the Tijuana cartel," he said. "We probably won't see any change in drug traffic."

The former director of the El Paso Intelligence Center also said that while the capo's capture will score points for Mexican President Vicente Fox, the proof of Fox's commitment lies in whether Mexico extradites Arellano to face drug charges in the United States.

Last month, Arellano's brother, Ramon, reportedly was killed in a shootout in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Because of the strange way in which his body was handled, many people remain suspicious about the reported death. Mexican authorities admitted that people who used fake identification on documents claimed his body and had it cremated immediately.

Power shifts

"I'm skeptical about the Ramon Arellano situation," Jordan said. "I'm going to have to look into it further before I can say I believe that he's dead."

The rivalry between the Tijuana and Juárez cartels surfaces in Juárez at times through violent murders designed to discipline members. The cartels also conduct internal purges to get rid of people they no longer trust.

U.S. and Mexican drug experts say both cartels have their following in Chihuahua state. Such a relationship lasts until a top drug dealer is killed, or until a cartel-backed official loses an election or is otherwise forced out of power.

Jordan said the Carrillo Fuentes cartel could end up smuggling more drugs because it no longer has to worry about fighting off its rivals.

"But the Tijuana cartel won't go away, because it has too many lieutenants," he said. "While it is busy reorganizing, the Carrillo Fuentes cartel will get stronger, and so will the Gulf cartel under Osiel Cardenas."

It won't go away because they'll always find ways to bring that gunk in here. Can't get past the border patrol? No problem, dig 100 tunnels.

How can this Administration call Mexico our friend? Get real.

Lets face it Fritz this "capture" was for "show and tell" . The President needs to show that the Mexicans are "serious" about steming the flow of drugs to justify his open borders..this will be it till the next time

Pathetic ! The American people are really sheeple!