Thread: Today's Bust Proof Cartels Have Invaded Neighborhoods

Today's Bust Proof Cartels Have Invaded Neighborhoods

Updated: Tuesday, 20 Dec 2011, 9:19 PM MST
Published : Tuesday, 20 Dec 2011, 9:19 PM MST

TEMPE - Police and federal agents take down one of the biggest drug rings the valley has ever seen, and in the process, take out a piece of the Sinaloa drug cartel.
Agents seized nearly $8 million in cash, more than 1,000 pounds total of marijuana, meth, and cocaine.

The investigation started 15 months ago at a strip mall in Tempe. A Tempe police officer saw a drug deal going down. He arrested two men, and like pulling a thread the case grew from there.

“This investigation, although it went after meth and street drugs, got us into some things where we did not anticipate the level of activity in our county that we actually uncovered,” says Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff.

Police also seized dozens of guns and arrested 203 people in Operation Crank Call.
Still, despite the major headway, authorities they know there is more work to do. News that the Sinaloa drug cartel is operating in the middle of Tempe raises the question -- how far have the cartels infiltrated valley neighborhoods?

It’s not just happening here, but across the southwest and into the Midwest. They're operating quite effectively, and the scary part is that those who are working for the cartel oftentimes have no idea who their boss really is.

“They’re moving hundreds of millions of dollars worth of narcotics into the United States. They’re smuggling weapons, they’re laundering money, these people, this is big business,” says Neville Cramer, retired INS special agent.

Neville Cramer knows what it's like to win some battles and lose others, due to his decades-long work as an Immigration and Naturalization Services agent.

He says the arrests and the seizures are good, but law enforcement is fighting a losing battle. The cartel isn't isolated south of the border -- their agents are here.

“You don’t know who these people are. They in some ways don’t know themselves, who they’re dealing the drugs for, so we’ve got thousands of people in this community that technically work for the cartel.”

“We’ve been fighting this drug war for a long time. We’ve won many battles against the drug cartel but we’re losing the war, we always have been, because we don’t want to do what is necessary to win the war,” says Cramer.

It’s a dire assessment punctuated by today's positive revelation of dealers, cash, weapons and drugs taken off the streets.

“It shows both the local officers and the federal government that they can cooperate and use each others resources and have tremendous success.”

Despite the big win for Tempe PD and the DEA, cartel contacts and dealers within the U.S. make identifying and taking down all operatives a difficult task -- and it will in no way destroy the cartel even if it does slow it down.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news...ods-12-20-2011

Federal and local authorities say they've arrested 203 people

Wonder how many Illegals? I guess we may never know the truth since Arpaio and MCSO can't tell us.
203 people in just one bust in Tempe? Must be at least 10.000 working for the cartels here in Mesa. BUT!

“We’ve been fighting this drug war for a long time. We’ve won many battles against the drug cartel but we’re losing the war, we always have been, because we don’t want to do what is necessary to win the war,” says Cramer.

We just don't want to hurt any ones FEELINGS!

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 20, 2011
Contact: Special Agent Ramona Sanchez
Number: 602 664-5725

DEA and Tempe Police Announce Results of Operation Crank Call
Over 203 Arrests; 435 pounds of Methamphetamine; $7.8 Million dollars in cash; and multiple high-powered weapons linked to drug smuggling organization

DEC 20 -- PHOENIX – DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman and Tempe Police Department Chief of Police Tom Ryff along with Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery announced today the culmination of a 15-month long investigation regarding an extensive trafficking cell associated with the Sinaloa Cartel headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada-Garcia.”

Tempe Police Detectives initiated the investigation after a Tempe Police Patrol Officer proactively contacted a subject upon observing an illegal drug transaction take place in his patrol area. Both subjects were arrested; one of the subjects was later identified as a delivery driver for a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that delivered methamphetamine to several customers in Tempe, as well as other customers residing in Maricopa County.

Based on the information from the Patrol Officer’s investigation, Detectives from the Tempe Police Special Investigations Bureau (SIB), Special Agents from the Phoenix Division DEA Strike Force Group 2, Prosecutors from Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and Attorney General Office initiated a joint undercover investigation into the DTO. Initially, Tempe Police detectives were able to identify local drug dealers in Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix, Chandler and Avondale. Tempe Police Detectives received information that the Phoenix DEA was investigating common elements of the DTO, and the joint investigation, dubbed “Operation Crank Call’ was initiated.

“Operation Crank Call” deals another significant blow to the drug trafficking organizations that continue to try and make the Phoenix Metropolitan area a primary hub of drug distribution, said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge, Doug Coleman. By dismantling this group, DEA and our partners have taken large quantities of drugs, millions of dollars in drug trafficker assets, and powerful weapons off our streets. DEA and our partners will continue to do everything in our power to bring to justice those who try to poison our communities."

The investigation resulted in the following:

• 203 Arrests
• 43 Search Warrants
• 44 Firearms
• 7.8 Million dollars in cash
• 650 Pounds of Marijuana
• 435 Pounds of Methamphetamine
• 123 Pounds of Cocaine
• 4.5 Pounds of Heroin

“The success of this operation is a direct result of law enforcement agencies working cooperatively toward a common goal. That goal is to rid our communities of organized crime,” said Tempe Chief of Police Tom Ryff. Chief Ryff added, “These are sophisticated, criminal enterprises. As Chief of Police I am committed to working in partnership with the community and other law enforcement agencies to curtail drug trafficking in the City of Tempe and throughout the valley.”

Assistance and support for the investigation were provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Phoenix Police Department, Avondale Police Department, and Gila River Police Department.

The DEA Phoenix OCDETF Strike Force brings a synergy to drug trafficking investigations by combining, side-by-side, the resources and expertise of all participating investigative agents and prosecutors. By coordinating their efforts in that way, OCDETF Strike Force has achieved great success against the major Mexican cartels.

For more information on DEA, visit http://www.dea.gov

http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/stat...hnx122011.html

Assistance and support for the investigation were provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Phoenix Police Department, Avondale Police Department, and Gila River Police Department.

Who will want the most credit?
But of Course....! NOT!

. . . Police said those arrested included U.S. and Mexican citizens. Charges brought in the case ranged from simple possession and drug paraphernalia offenses to trafficking charges.
Coleman said the investigation was ongoing and expected further arrests.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7BJ1QC20111220