Hot on The Trail

WHEN HUMAN-RIGHTS CHAMPION JORGE CARPIZO MacGregor took over as Mexico's Attorney General early this year, he vowed to crack down on drug traffickers and the corrupt government officials who collaborate with them. Few citizens expected much action. But Mexican police have already killed two drug lords, Rafael Aguilar Guajardo and Emilio Quintero Payan, the alleged leader of the Guadalajara cartel. Carpizo's agents have captured more than 15 tons of cocaine, one-third more than in all of 1992. In one bust, police found 7.2 tons of cocaine hidden in 8,000 cans of jalapeno peppers.

Carpizo still has his work cut out for him. When Quintero died, he was carrying a false drug-agent credential, and two of his top aides captured at the time claimed they were protected by a senior federal police commander who works in Carpizo's office.