Mexican Corruption Reads Like Hollywood Screenplay

By: Michael Wuebben
Topics: In The News

Much has been made of the supposed audacity of embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for refusing to resign. But "Lightning Rod" ain't got nuthin' on former Mexican police chief Victor Gerardo Garay who was arrested on charges of helping a drug cartel. According to a report yesterday in the Mexican newspaper Reforma, Garay turned a raid on Colombian drug dealers into "an orgy and alleged robbery of half a million dollars, jewelry, and even the robbery of an English bulldog." Garay even took a little time out for a hot tub with a few of the many prostitutes on hand.

The October incident is being used by some Mexican politicians in their push to reform the nation's security and justice departments. The details read like a scene synopsis from the director's cut of "Scarface." Even former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer limited himself to one prostitute at a time. CBS News' Susana Seijas translated this excerpt from Reforma:

The raid headed by Victor Gerardo Garay, the former Federal Preventive Police Force commissioner ... to detain Harold Mauricio Poveda, "The Rabbit," the main Colombian contact with the Beltran Leyva brothers culminated in a party, robbery and looting.

According to declarations from people detained at the scene and other witnesses, to which Reforma had access to ... Garay spent some time in a Jacuzzi with four prostitutes, from the 30 who had been detained. Garay is said to have sent some of his subordinates in the police force to several houses belonging to some of the Colombians they had just arrested in search of money. In total, they got half a million dollars and jewelry. Juliana, "The Rabbit's" girlfriend denounced torture; her friend Angela Quintera, robbery, hitting and acts of humiliation. Mauricio Poveda, the alleged contact with the Beltran Brothers managed to escape.

This case is just one example of a growing crisis of violence and corruption in Mexico. CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker took an exclusive look at how Mexico's problem is crossing the border - a growing danger for innocent citizens and even American tourists journeying south.

5 Comments +

Add a Comment


by fredflinsto2 December 17, 2008 10:51 AM EST: I don''t see what the big deal is. The illegal aliens turned our once great country into a third world economy in less than 10 years. nobody is doing anything about what they did here. Why should we care what they did in their own country?; Reply to this comment


by lovegetpeace December 16, 2008 10:15 PM EST: Eliminating the Supply will not help Eliminate the Strong Demand here in the USA.

Americans cause so much dealth and destruction in Mexico with it ddemand for Narcotic Drugs that it impact the creation of jobs in Mexico. This in turn forces some Mexican to cross the border.

Where ever there is a demand, there is a Supplier somewhere willing and abled to meet the demand.; Reply to this comment


by neonink December 16, 2008 9:46 PM EST: ps. don''t tell me I could grow my own.

I can''t even grow decent tomatoes.; Reply to this comment


by neonink December 16, 2008 9:45 PM EST: Legalize pot and let Americans grow it. Then tax the hell out of it to pay for our deficit.; Reply to this comment