Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
News Release
Los Angeles Field Division
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2010
www.atf.gov
Contact: Michael Hoffman, Special Agent — PIO
Office: (818) 265-2507
Cell: (951) 538-4803
michael.hoffman@atf.gov

ATF Announces Opening of New Office in Imperial County, To Help Combat Firearms Trafficking

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. – Special Agent in Charge John A. Torres, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division, today announced that ATF has expanded operations in Imperial County by opening up a new office in the city of Imperial.

The office will be staffed with special agents, industry operations investigators and an intelligence research specialist. The investigative priorities of the office are to further ATF’s Project Gunrunner program. Project Gunrunner is ATF’s initiative targeting the illegal trafficking of firearms into Mexico. The Imperial office is part of ATF’s strategic deployment of resources on the Southwest Border to deny firearms to criminal organizations operating in Mexico and along the border. This strategy will also aid in the reduction of firearms-related violence affecting communities on both sides of the border.

ATF agents and investigators will share their knowledge and expertise in identifying and investigating firearms and explosives violations to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies operating in and around Imperial County.

“With the opening of our new office and the additional personnel assigned, ATF is significantly increasing its presence in the Imperial Valley,â€