Thread: Arrests, sezures, drug busts, etc. for 8/31/12

I.C.E.News Release

August 31, 2012
Newark, NJ

HSI Newark and Spanish authorities combat narcotics smuggling

3 arrested in Barcelona after cocaine was intercepted in New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. — Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with the Spanish Guardia Civil, arrested three individuals Tuesday in Barcelona, Spain, for violations of Spanish drug laws.

Oleksii Stepanets, a Ukrainian national; Eduard Medvedev, a Russian national; and Edgar Palma Bofill, a Spanish national, were arrested in Barcelona pursuant to a controlled delivery of 2.23 kilograms of cocaine initiated by HSI Newark.

"The success of this operation overseas is indicative of the excellent relationship HSI Madrid maintains with their Spanish counterparts and a prime example of what can be accomplished through international cooperation," said Attaché Alexander Alonso, HSI Madrid.

"These arrests clearly demonstrate the combined strength that HSI and international law enforcement agencies bring to bear in the battle against narcotics smuggling," said Andrew McLees, special agent in charge of HSI Newark. "This cooperation with foreign governments represents HSI's broad footprint that extends beyond our border."

"Customs and Border Protection is on the frontline of intercepting illegal narcotics," said Robert E. Perez, director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) New York Field Operations. "CBP continues to work closely with HSI and other law enforcement agencies to deter drug smuggling organizations."

On Aug. 21, 2012, CBP officers located at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark intercepted a shipment of pulleys containing approximately 2.23 kilograms of cocaine. The shipment, which originated in Costa Rica and arrived in Newark on a commercial aircraft, was manifested as auto parts destined for an auto shop in Barcelona.

HSI Newark coordinated with HSI Madrid in order to assist the Spanish Guardia Civil in the successful execution of an enforcement action. As a result, law enforcement arrested three individuals and seized a total of 2.99 kilograms of cocaine and precursor chemicals.

This arrest is linked to a previous seizure of 10 kilograms of cocaine which was also intercepted at Newark Liberty International Airport. The wholesale value of the cocaine is more than $500,000.

Law enforcement both in the United States and Spain continue to follow-up on all investigative leads.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

HSI Newark and Spanish authorities combat narcotics smuggling

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: August 28, 2012 Contact: Special Agent Paul Roach Number: 720-895-4157 DEA Colorado Springs Resident Office Hits the Trifecta AUG 28 (DENVER) – Drug Enforcement Administration Agents and Task Force Officers (TFOs) of the Colorado Springs Resident Office, in conjunction with their federal, state and local partners, successfully concluded three separate investigations with the arrests of 14 suspects and the seizure of significant amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The first investigation targeted a drug trafficking organization in the Pikes Peak region that was distributing heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The 10-month investigation expanded to seven other states and Mexico, and culminated with seven arrests and the seizure of 6.8 pounds of heroin, 9.75 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, $152,755, and six vehicles. That case led quickly to a separate spin-off investigation of a heroin trafficking cell operating in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. This second investigation concluded on August 16, 2012 with the arrests of two suspects after investigators intercepted a load vehicle traveling from California to Colorado. Four pounds of heroin and ¼ pound of cocaine were seized from the vehicle. Officers seized an additional ¼ pound of heroin and three vehicles during a subsequent search warrant at an apartment associated with the organization. Finally, on August 14, 2012, law enforcement officers seized 600 pounds of marijuana, two vehicles, and arrested five suspects in a separate investigation of a marijuana distribution organization operating throughout Colorado. The individuals listed below were arrested in connection with the three investigations: Juan Ramon Espinoza-Aldana Jacinto Ponce-Amparo Matias Aleman-Sanchez Miguel Angel Gamboa-Tasso Enrique Cuevas-Del Toro Zakariya Angel Salazar Leo Rios-Lucero Javier Francisco-Jimenez Maria Isabel Mendoza-Palacios Guadalupe Marguez-Chavez Ernesto Mata-Rotas Angel Eduard Nunez-Rivera Mario Alberto Dominguez-Orozco Cesar Sotelo-Lopez These three investigations required much cooperation and coordinated enforcement action with several other agencies. The partnerships the DEA Colorado Springs Resident Office has formed continue to pay off with successful joint operations such as these. Agencies involved with these cases include the Colorado Springs Police Department, Pueblo Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, HSI, Denver Police Department, and the Colorado State Patrol. #### News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, Denver News Releases 08/28/12

Eduardo Arellano-Felix Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges(12-1072)
Friday, August 31, 2012
Eduardo Arellano-Felix, 55, one of the alleged members of the Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO), was extradited today by the government of Mexico to the United States to face racketeering, money laundering and narcotics trafficking charges in the Southern District of California.
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Three Former UBS Executives Convicted for Frauds Involving Contracts Related to the Investment of Municipal Bond Proceeds(10-1071)
Friday, August 31, 2012
A federal jury in New York City today convicted three former financial services executives for their participation in frauds related to bidding for contracts for the investment of municipal bond proceeds and other municipal finance contracts.
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Departments of Justice and Education Reach Settlement with Arizona Department of Education to Ensure That ELL Students Are Properly Identified and Not Prematurely Exited(12-1070)
Friday, August 31, 2012
The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, and the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, today entered into a settlement agreement with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) that requires ADE and Arizona public schools to offer targeted reading and writing intervention services to tens of thousands of English Language Learner (ELL) students who were prematurely exited or incorrectly identified as Initially Fluent English Proficient (IFEP) over the past five school years. The agreement also requires ADE to develop proficiency criteria that accurately identify and exit ELL students.
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Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Leader Sentenced in Houston for Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering(12-1069)
Friday, August 31, 2012
Steven Walter Cooke, 48, aka “Stainless,” pleaded guilty on March 16, 2012, to racketeering aggravated assault for his role in the beating of an ABT prospect member.
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Government Files Complaint Against Dallas Area-Based For-profit Chain of Schools for False Claims Act Violations(12-106
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The United States has intervened and filed a complaint against the private, for-profit chain of schools, ATI Enterprises Inc. based in North Richland, Texas, the Justice Department announced today. ATI Enterprises, Inc., which does business as ATI Technical Training Center, ATI Career Training Center and ATI Career Training, operates career college campuses in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
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Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Mexican National Arrested for Smuggling at Douglas Port of Entry
08/31/2012 05:35 PM EDT
Douglas, Ariz. - A female resident of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico was arrested on August 28, for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly $70,000 worth of marijuana through the Douglas port of entry. Customs and Border Protection officers referred Rosalva Avilez Teran, 23, for inspection of her Pontiac sedan when she attempted to enter the United States. (more)

CBP Officers Seize Nearly $505k in Narcotics
08/31/2012 05:35 PM EDT
Nogales, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Dennis DeConcini Port seized more than 14 pounds of cocaine, nearly 24 pounds of methamphetamine and almost one-half pound of heroin Tuesday in connection with failed smuggling attempts. (more)

www.cbp.gov