CARLOS GOMEZ, HEAD OF THE MEXICAN BANKERS' ASSOCIATION TALKS TO REPORTERS, 1998-05-19 (photo)

Carlos Gomez, head of the Mexican Bankers' Association talks at a press conference May 18. Gomez said Mexican banks unanimously agreed to cooperate with U.S. officials to probe money laundering in 12 of Mexico's biggest banks. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and Attorney General Janet Reno said a three-year undercover operation has resulted in the indictment of officials from 12 of Mexico's 19 largest banks. The United States charged that officials from some of Mexico's biggest banks as Bancomer, Banamex, Banco Internacional and Confia, were involved in helping launder U.S. drug money reaped by Colombian and Mexican drug lords. HR/VM/ME