PGR SHAKE-UP

164585 2008-08-01 18:01:00 08MEXICO2371 Embassy Mexico CONFIDENTIAL 08MEXICO2085 VZCZCXRO1799 RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHME #2371 2141801 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 011801Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2805 INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RHMFISS/CDR USNORTHCOM RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM MX C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 002371 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2027 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM MX SUBJECT: PGR SHAKE-UP REF: MEXICO 2085 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie A. Bassett, reason: 1.4 ( b),(d). ¶1. (C) According to post's law enforcement community (LEC), evidence from A U.S. law enforcement source (see reftel) uncovered high-level corruption within the Attorney General's Office (PGR) -- suggesting several officials had been compromised by the Sinaloa cartel. The evidence, shared with Attorney General Medina Mora, led to the requested resignation of all five Deputy Attorney Generals and the arrest of several SIEDO investigators detailed from the military. PGR's investigation on this matter is ongoing and they have requested that information not be disseminated. ¶2. (C) The only publicly confirmed move is that of Noe Ramirez Mandujano who served as the head of PGR's anti-organized crime unit, SIEDO. PGR's official statement said the resignation was part of a rejiggering in anti-crime efforts requested by President Calderon and "failure to perform" on Ramirez's part. The new, but only temporary, head of SIEDO is Marisela Morales Ibanez, who previously headed up the agency's people-trafficking unit. ¶3. (C) The other four deputy attorney generals (DAGs) who were requested to resign are Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos (who is responsible for legal and international affairs); Victor Emilio Corzo (regional controls and injunctions); Felipe Munoz (federal crimes); and Juan de Dios Castro (human rights). Of these four, Santiago Vasconcelos is the only one expected to be removed and may be replaced by one of the other DAGs. A reorganization of PGR is expected to take place within the next 15 days. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BASSETT