A representative of Victory Outreach International headquarters in San Dimas stated in a 7 April 1999 telephone interview that Alcance Victoria de Mexico, A.R. is a branch of Victory Outreach International in Mexico City. The Internet site of this organization provides the following information:

Victory Outreach Ministries International, a Christian organization was established over 30 years ago when Sonny Arguinzoni, a former heroin addict from the streets of New York, and his wife Julie, were deeply impressed to establish a church in the Los Angeles area; one that would be conducive in reaching the hard-core heroin addicts, gang members and their families. Today, Victory Outreach is in over 400 inner cities throughout the United States, Mexico, and overseas in Europe, Africa and Asia reaching the lost no matter the cost ...

Victory Outreach is one of the largest drug prevention and rehabilitation facilities in the world. Victory Outreach International is a non profit Christian oriented ministry called to the task of serving the community.

We work to restore the family unit by focusing on substance abuse, alcoholism, gang violence, and other life-controlling habits. Victory Outreach has been in existence for over 30 years and has Special Services Homes and Churches throughout the United States and abroad.

Victory Outreach provides assistance to individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted by alcohol and drug abuse. Victory Outreach has 350 faith-based residential facilities housing over 13,000 drug addicts per year.

For further information on Victoria Outreach International activities in the world, please consult the organization's Internet site at www.victoryoutreach.org/index.

A representative of Alcance Victoria de Mexico stated in a 9 April 1999 telephone interview that he had no knowledge of any Alcance Victoria pastor having problems with drug dealers. The Research Directorate did not ask the Alcance Victoria representative to provide information on drug traffickers operating in the vicinity of his organization.

On the Tepito drug cartel, a report published in the 7 June 1998 issue of Mexico's daily El Universal states that the chief of this organization, Jorge Ortiz Reyes, alias "El Tanque", was ready to collaborate with Mexico's Attorney's General Office (Procuraduría General de la Republica, PGR).

Furthermore, A 7 March 1998 article of the Mexican daily La Jornada reports the arrest of Fidel Camarillo Salas, also known as "El Papirín," reputedly one of the heads of the Tepito Cartel. Fidel Camarillo rose to prominence working with his brother Mario, who is widely regarded as one of the main smugglers of illegal merchandise into Mexico; Fidel was arrested after his lieutenant, known as "El Oscar," was arrested in the midst of a crime (ibid.). After his lieutenant was arrested, "El Papirín" left for New York under an assumed identity, but had to return to Mexico to retain control of his organization (ibid.).

The report from La Jornada states that Tepito is the most important centre of crime and corruption in the capital city of Mexico, where many "embryonic" groups have struggled for a share of the illicit activities (ibid.). However, "El Papirín" maintained a leading role through a combination of ruthlessness, generosity, business savvy, association with Colombian gangsters, and protection from agents of the Federal Judicial Police (PJF) (ibid.). "El Papirín" is linked with a number of executions of rival traffickers, and is considered to have been one of the main links between drug trafficking and property theft rings (ibid.). Finally, the report states that the Federal District's Attorney General (Procuradoría General de Justicia del DF) has begun investigating the "vertical and horizontal" links of Fidel Camarillo, and adds that the Tepito Cartel is far from eliminated, since there are indications that protection from federal agents is fostering the rise of new "papirines" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Alcance Victoria de Mexico, Mexico City. 9 April 1999. Telephone interview with representative.

El Universal [Mexico City]. 7 June 1998. Rafael Gonzales. "Fue Puesto 'El Tanque,' a disposición de la PGR." [Internet] www.aguila.el-universal.com.mx/net/1998/jun98/07jun98/ciudad/01-ci-e [Consulted: 12 Apr. 1999].

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 7 March 1998. Humberto Ortiz Moreno. "Acabó el reinado de

El Papirín en el cártel de las drogas de Tepito." [Internet] http://serpiente.dgsca.unam.mx/jornada/ 1998/mar98/980307/acabo.html [Accessed 12 Apr. 1999]

Victoria Outreach International, Las Dimas, CA. 7 April 1999. Telephone interview with representative.

_____. Internet site. www.victoryoutreach.org/index [Consulted: 7 Apr. 1999].

Electronic Sources : IRB databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC.