DEA: Border hit list not yet verified
By Jose L. Medina Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 06/24/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES — The head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for the El Paso sector — which includes New Mexico — said Monday that a purported Mexican drug cartel hit list that may name more than a dozen Americans has not been confirmed as credible since its existence became public late last week.

"Nobody has substantiated it. In other words, if it does exist, it hasn't gotten to us yet," said John "Jack" Riley, special agent in charge for the El Paso DEA office.

Riley said this is the first, but not likely the last, time a potential hit list has surfaced that names individuals living on this side of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Our guys and our analysts and agents have not personally seen it," Riley said. "... That's not to say we won't be looking at it. And I would imagine, if the trend continues, if this is accurate, it probably won't be the last."

The possible existence of a list naming Americans or residents of the U.S. became public Thursday evening when an El Paso television station aired an interview with the family member of one of the 15 to 20 people reportedly on the list.

On Friday morning, Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos confirmed that his agency had been notified of the list while denying the television station's report that his agency had uncovered the list, which may have come in the form of an e-mail. Cobos said the list was part of an intelligence report provided to numerous state law enforcement agencies by the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security.
A spokesman for state DHS declined to comment last week — citing the pending investigation — and could not be reached Monday.

The list reportedly names individuals currently or formerly living in Luna, Doña Ana and El Paso counties. Also on the list is at least one name of an individual residing in Albuquerque. Two of those named are or have been car dealers in Bernalillo and Luna counties.

None of the names have been divulged.

There have been other hit lists south of the border, in Juárez specifically, since the beginning of the year as an escalating drug turf war there has claimed more than 400 lives. A number on those named on the lists, including some police officers, have been killed.

The list is the latest concern over whether drug-related violence in Mexico can potentially make its way across the border.

If the newest list is substantiated, Riley said DEA would "do everyting we could to protect a U.S. citizen."

"Obviously we're extremely concerned," Riley said, "and that's one of the things that we're working very hard to make sure that these type of things, that if they do occur, that we put every investigative effort we can into substantiating them. If they can be substantiated, we would take every precaution."

Other threats allegedly involving Mexican drug cartels have proven to be a hoax.

Over the weekend, a circulated e-mail warned against an attack on customers at El Paso's Cielo Vista Mall. The threat proved empty.

"There is no validity to the e-mail," El Paso police spokesman Officer Chris Mears said Monday.

The El Paso Times contributed to this story

Jose Medina can be reached at jmedina@lcsun-news.com

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