Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA) Copyright: 2000 The Tribune Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Fax: 805.781.7905 Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/ MEXICO CALLED DRUG TRADE HEADQUARTERS U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow said Thursday that Mexican dealers are among the world's biggest drug traffickers, and the country has become the world headquarters for the drug trade. Davidow's language was unexpectedly harsh, considering the support that U.S. officials have expressed for U.S. certification of Mexico's anti-drug efforts, and Davidow's own recognition that anti-drug cooperation with Mexico has improved. "The fact is that the headquarters of drug trafficking is in Mexico ... just like the headquarters of the Mafia is in Sicily," Davidow said, speaking in Spanish before a group of alumni from the University of Southern California in Mexico City. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D