Thread: Arrest, seizures, bust, etc. 7/10/12

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

CBP Officers at Miami International Airport Find Heroin in Shipment of Flowers
07/10/2012 06:31 PM EDT
Miami - Last week U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Miami International Airport seized .25 Kg of Heroin found in a cargo of flowers. The seizure took place during a routine examination of cargo coming from Bogota, Colombia. The drug was found during a routine examination of flower boxes when CBP officers spotted a cylinder shaped object hidden amongst the carnations. (more)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $1.2 Million in Cocaine at Pharr Port of Entry
07/10/2012 06:31 PM EDT
Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Pharr Port of Entry on Saturday seized cocaine valued at approximately $1,164,800 during a routine vehicle inspection of a passenger vehicle. On July 7, 2012 at the Pharr International Bridge a CBP officer came in contact with a 2001 Ford Focus driven by a woman identified as a 20-year-old Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. (more)

CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Detect Nine Immigration Violations in 24 Hours on America's Birthday
07/10/2012 06:31 PM EDT
Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry during a 24-hour period on America's birthday detected nine separate alleged violations of immigration law, including entry with legitimate documents belonging to other people, use of altered entry documents and an alleged attempt to bring in a nine-year-old Mexican national girl with another child's document. (more)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Local News Update
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 4:22 PM
From: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection" <cbp@service.govdelivery.com>

FBI E-Mail Updates

Members of 4th Street Bloods Gang Handed Federal Sentences July 10, 2012 - Houston Indicted Former Mayor of Toms River Returns to United States to Face Federal Tax Charges in New Jersey July 10, 2012 - Newark District Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate Campaign Laws and to Obstruct Justice in a Federal Investigation July 10, 2012 - Washington Eight New Jersey Men Indicted in Heroin Trafficking Ring July 10, 2012 - Newark Nine Defendants Indicted in a Schenectady-Based Drug Conspiracy July 10, 2012 - Albany Florida Federal Grand Jury Returns New Indictments and Sentencing Updates for Fraudulent Oil Spill Claims July 10, 2012 - Jacksonville Chadds Ford Man Pleads Guilty to Reckless Runway Ride July 10, 2012 - Philadelphia Former New Jersey Resident Admits Role in Real Estate Scam That Defrauded Family Friends July 10, 2012 - Newark Formal Charges, New Allegations Announced After Investigation of Indiana Man in Sextortion Scheme July 10, 2012 - Indianapolis Ryan Grace Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison and Lifetime Supervised Release for Traveling Across State Lines to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor July 10, 2012 - Albany Former Bankruptcy Trustee Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing from Estates July 10, 2012 - New Haven

FBI In the News www.fbi.gov/

FBI E-Mail Updates

Fourteenth Baltimore Police Officer Sentenced in Towing Extortion Scheme July 10, 2012 - Baltimore FBI Announces $20,000 Reward for Information Regarding Osage Baptist Church IED Incident July 9, 2012 - Little Rock

FBI E-Mail Updates

Reward Offered for Information on Serial Bank Robbers in Connecticut July 10, 2012 - New Haven Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine July 9, 2012 - Omaha Buffalo Man Sentenced on Drug Conspiracy and Money Laundering Charges July 9, 2012 - Buffalo Lawyer and Wife Sentenced for Scheme to Defraud Lender July 9, 2012 - Philadelphia Former Civilian Contractor Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Role in Scheme to Steal and Sell Military Equipment in Iraq July 9, 2012 - Charlotte

FBI E-Mail Updates

Fort Yates Man Pleads Guilty to Assaults July 10, 2012 - Minneapolis Lower Brule Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault July 10, 2012 - Minneapolis Massachusetts Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Material Support to Terrorists July 10, 2012 - Boston

Mexico arrests two alleged Sinaloa drug cartel members

(AFP) – 3 hours ago

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Two alleged senior members of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel who are wanted by the US Drug Enforcement Agency were arrested in Mexico's crime capital Ciudad Juarez, officials said.

The two suspects, identified as Fernando Arellano Romero and Daniel Franco Lopez, were arrested by a special Chihuahua state police unit late Monday along with a woman who "attempted to hide several firearms," the state prosecutor's office said. She was identified as Lopez's wife and Arellano Romero's niece.

Two other men also wanted by US officials however escaped during the operation, state officials said, identifying them only by their nicknames.

Lopez and Arellano Romero "appear on a list of more than 20 members of that organization published by the DEA," the state prosecutor's office said.

The US Justice Department indictment, published April 24, includes cartel leader Joaquin "Chapo" (Shorty) Guzman and his top lieutenant, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, as well as other Sinaloa Cartel members.

Charges in the US indictment include kidnapping, murder, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Ciudad Juarez is located on the Rio Grande river, just across from the US city of El Paso, Texas. The city is a choice location from which to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Analysts say the Sinaloa Cartel has gained control of Ciudad Juarez after a bitter, bloody battle with the once powerful Ciudad Juarez-based Carrillo Fuentes group.

The US Treasury Department considers Guzman "the world's most powerful drug trafficker." Forbes magazine estimates his wealth at $1 billion.

More than 50,000 people have been killed and 5,000 have gone missing in Mexico since outgoing President Felipe Calderon launched a military crackdown on the cartels when he took office in late 2006.

AFP: Mexico arrests two alleged Sinaloa drug cartel members