'Spy' in Los Pinos.

Mexico's war on drugs was shaken to the core in early February when it was revealed that a major drug cartel allegedly had a spy inside Los Pinos. Federal authorities detained Nahum Acosta, the head of President Fox's travel staff, on suspicion he was feeding information to drug lords, the Federal Attorney General's Office (PGR) said.

The PGR have accused Acosta of selling sensitive information about the president's travel itinerary to the notorious Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, suspected leader of the Sonora cartel. "El Chapo" escaped from a federal maximum security prison in 2001.

The New York Times cited authorities on both sides of the border saying Guzman "has almost single-handedly ignited the underworld war that is sweeping Mexico ... in recent months." Interestingly enough, the PGR captured Ivan Archivaldo Guzman--the son of the drug lord--on money laundering charges just two weeks after apprehending Acosta.

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Acosta's arrest and the spectacular revelations that he was doing favors for organized crime sparked rumors that President Fox may have been the target of an assassination attempt. Fox's personal security was increased, but the PGR played down the threat.

Also getting the attention of authorities were reports that a group of Army deserters--a unit of elite Mexican soldiers referred to as the Zetas--may have acquired two anti-aircraft missiles. A U.S. official told the Dallas Morning News that the U.S. government is taking the matter seriously. The Zetas have apparently worked on behalf of the Gulf cartel since the late 1990s.

The fallout from these developments fueled a brief border spat between the U.S. and Mexican governments. U.S. CIA Director Porter Goss told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee that Mexico could be "a problem country" in 2005. Goss also indicated there are signs that al-Qaeda might try to infiltrate the United States via the border with Mexico.

Mexico's Interior Secretary Santiago Creel angrily denounced Goss' criticism. U.S. Undersecretary of State Roger Noriega quickly tried to smoothe over the issue, declaring Mexico a "stable ally and partner."