Page 10-Friday, June 4, 1982-The Michigan Daily
Smuggln ak
as big business
in Mexico

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MEXICO CITY (AP)- In the capital
they call it "fayuca." On the border
they call it "chivas." But it all means
the same thing-contraband, an in-
dustry so big in Mexico it is im-
measurable and almost tolerated.
But when 27 national legislators
returning from the United States had
$217,000 in illicit imports confiscated
this week it put a focus on the problem
and on the stickier question of
executive immunity from the law.
HIGH DUTIES and the generally bet-
ter quality of imports make the produc-
ts both desirable and frightfully expen-
sive in Mexico. When imported legally,
electrical appliances and some other
goods can bring up to 400 percent of
their American shelf price.
Inflation in Mexico, running at an an-
nual rate of nearly 60 percent so far this
year, makes some Mexican-made
products even more expensive than
their smuggled equivalents despite the
fact that smugglers make at least
double their money even after bribing
customs'officials.
The 14 senators and 13 deputies had
been at a four-day Mexican-American
Interparliamentary conference in San-
ta Barbara, California and returned
with about 10 other people, mostly jour-
nalists, in a chartered DC-9 jet.

ONE JOURNALIST on board who
asked not to be named said the cabin of
the jet was completely filled with crates
containing microwave ovens, television
sets, video-casette recorders, designer
clothes, jewelry and other items.
Official flights normally do not have
to pass customs, and occupants
routinely take advantage of that to
bring back massive quantities of goods,
especially electrical appliances, that
can be used or, more often, sold here for
huge profits on the wide-open black
market.
Here as in many other, countries,
public office carries its share of
traditional privileges. A government
identification card of even medium
rank is usually enough to get the holder
out of a traffic ticket or into a movie
theater or to elicita "professional cour-
tesy" from a customs agent.
Others, when crossing with con-
traband, may be asked to make a
payment, which one local wag refers to
as "a tip in anticipation of services not
rendered."
There are few campaigns against the
practice in the local press because
many journalists bring back as much or
more than the government officials,
sometimes-with money supplied by the
government agency that sponsored the
trip.

Youth Qfl trial.
Seven-year-old James Means, the youngest defendant in California history,
sits pensively yesterday during the second day of testimony in Ventura
County Juvenile Court. Means is charged with three counts of arson and 14
misdemeanors involving petty theft and property destruction.
Voter sweepstakes
held in California

I


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opens in its new
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LOS ANGELES (AP)- When voters
cast their ballots in California next
Tuesday, the exercise in democracy
could win them a date with "Dynasty"
star Linda Evans, a trip to Hawaii, a
lifetime supply of french fries, or a pair
of roller skates.
That's to name a few of the $5 million
in prizes in a voter sweepstakes
dreamed up by movie producer-
promoter Ed Shaw.
"THERE'LL probably be a few let-
ters to the editor saying, 'Isn't it
disgusting that you have to reward
people to vote,' but this is the American
way," Shaw said yesterday. "When
there's a housing slump, the housing
'Playgirl' to'
in search of3
(Continuedfrom Page1)
OSU studying civil engineering, said he
went to the interview because he didn't
know what to expect. "It seemed like a
good opportunity to do something out of
the ordinary," he said.
In an initial lineup, Querns said, each
applicant had a photo taken of himself
bare-chested. Some of the hopefuls
seemed at ease with the thought of
posing nude, he said, while others were
nervous and worried what their
families would think.
"It doesn't take much of an excuae
for a lot of people to take their clothes

developers give away free televisions.
When General Motors wanted to sell
cars, they gave away one free car in the
whole United States. And here's little
Shaw, giving away $5 million."
Shaw, a promoter for 20 years, says
the sweepstakes for the June 8 primary
will cost him only about $5,000 in long-
distance phone calls and a staff to open
the mail that is already pouring in to his
post office box. The prizes have been
donated.
'The prizes are being donated by the
companies that are providing them,
"for public relations-they want to be
part of this patriotic thing, getting
people out to vote," says Shaw.
visit campus
male Models
off," Querns said.
Other candidates took the matter
more seriously. "I am interviewing
with Playgirl as a protest to what is
happening to this country," Joseph
Knapik, a 31-year-old continuing
education student told OSU's student
newspaper. "It's taking a turn towards
conservatism."
Although most of the applicants went
to the interview under their own free
will, at least one went under false
pretenses. "My friends told me we were
going swimming," an OSU sophomore
told the newspaper..

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