Effort against Azteca gang results in 54 arrests
By Daniel Borunda
Posted: 03/23/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT

EL PASO -- A total of 54 members and associates of the Barrio Azteca gang have been arrested as part of Operation Knock Down, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said Monday.

The DEA-led crackdown is one of the largest law enforcement efforts ever in El Paso, with more than 200 officers from 21 different agencies. The operation was launched last Thursday to pressure members of the Barrio Azteca gang for information on the deaths of three people linked to the U.S. Consulate in Juárez.

Mexican authorities had said the murders could have been the work of the Aztecas gang, which works as muscle for the Juárez drug cartel. In the U.S., the gang is known as the Barrio Azteca.

Law enforcement said the arrests were for felony and misdemeanor charges, such as possession of small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, weapons violations and warrants. Names of those arrested were not released.

"It is still ongoing. We continue to follow leads," said Carmen Coutino, spokeswoman for the DEA in El Paso.

"We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners to enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods in El Paso and Southern New Mexico," Coutino said.

Investigators are trying to find out who killed Lesley A. Enriquez Redelfs, a U.S. citizen who worked at the U.S. Consulate in Juárez; her husband Arthur Redelfs, a detention officer with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros of Juárez, whose wife worked at the consulate.

The DEA and El Paso police said there have been two phases to Operation Knock Down.

On Thursday, phase one began as an "intelligence collection" effort, in which teams of investigators questioned suspected gang members and associates, and those with outstanding warrants were arrested.

Phase two, which began Saturday, was described by El Paso police as a "tactical operation" that switched focus to serving arrest warrants.

Police spokesman Detective Mike Baranyay said that 25 people were arrested in phase two -- 10 were confirmed Barrio Azteca members and the rest were believed to be associates.

During phase two, the El Paso police SWAT team served a search warrant at an undisclosed location on Saturday night as part of an investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Baranyay said.

Baranyay said police would not reveal the location of the raid because the operation continues.

"There could be a phase three," Baranyay said. "There could be a phase four."

The Barrio Azteca was formed by El Pasoans in prison and has a military-style hierarchy, including supporters, known as "esquinas," soldiers, sergeants, lieutenants and captains or capos.

The BA has grown to become the largest gang in the El Paso region and charges "taxes" from street-level drug dealers.

Reputed capo Eduardo "Tablas" Ravelo, who allegedly runs the Barrio Azteca's operations in Juárez, is currently on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. Ravelo is sought on federal charges of racketeering, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Enrique Torres, spokesman for Coordinated Operation Chihuahua, said the Mexican military would not disclose any operations targeting the gang.

"The operations being done are discreet. We are keeping information reserved and we will give out information when it is appropriate," Torres said.

Recently, teams of soldiers have beefed-up inspections at the international bridges of vehicles and people entering Mexico. "We are looking for money and weapons and suspicious persons due to information we are exchanging with authorities from the United States," Torres said.

Persons with tattoos are reportedly facing extra scrutiny and questioning from U.S. inspectors at the international bridges because of the gang crackdown, the Diario de Juárez newspaper reported.

Gang investigators have said that members of the Barrio Azteca use tattoos of "Azteca," the number "21" or "XXI" standing for "BA" (the second and first letters of the alphabet) and ancient Aztec imagery.

Aztec imagery is also used as a homage to Mexican culture by people who aren't gang members.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection would not answer questions about whether its officers are scrutinizing people with tattoos at border crossings in El Paso.

"We are the guardians of our nation's border," agency spokesman Roger Maier said in a written statement. "We use a variety of inspection techniques, however we are not going to discuss specifics to protect the integrity of our efforts."

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com

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