July 21, 2011 - 4:35 PM

Drug Cartel Operation Busted in Madera

Reported by: Alicia Coates
Published: 3:10 pm
Updated: 3:28 pm

Federal agents busted a Mexican drug cartel operation in the Madera Ranchos area of Madera County.

The agents arrested 34-year-old Victor Yanez-Gutierrez, 27-year-old Maria Aguilar-Polvos and 22-year-old Ivan Aguilar-sandoval.

The drug cartel investigation started in Tampa, Florida and the trail led agents to Los Angeles, Modesto and finally Madera.

The Madera County Sheriff's Department says it's a disturbing new occurrence, dangerous drug cartels that usually operate in border towns, now recruiting local gang members to do their dirty work.

The sheriff's department worked with the FBI and ICE agents to track down and arrest two high ranking members of Mexico's notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, a group associated with deadly shootings in Mexico. Victor Yanez-Gutierrez and Maria Aguilar-Polvos were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and money laundering.

Sheriff John Anderson said, "What they were investing was narcotics trafficking and apparently it's a case that stems from Tampa, Florida."

Agents also seized more than $63,000 and several cars at a large home on Paula Road.

Ivan Aguilar-Sandoval is a Sureno gang member from San Jose, which Sheriff Anderson says is a disturbing new trend of local gang members being recruited by the cartels as foot soldiers. "We're quickly developing into same type of situation that they have in Mexico with big drug traffic organizations that are scattered around the county... even in our little 'cow county'. That's what's kind of scary," said Anderson.

A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous says this infamous capture shows how the drug war is growing far past the border and hopes this problem is tackled before it grows roots in the Valley. "Hopefully they can keep them out but like everything else... in a couple weeks they'll be back."

All three suspects are in the Madera County Jail on an immigration hold.

http://www.cbs47.tv/news/local/story/Dr ... iRhCA.cspx