Pubdate: Wed, 06 Dec 2000
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2000 El Paso Times
Contact:  P.O.Box 20, El Paso, Texas 79999
Fax: (915) 546-6415
Website:  http://www.borderlandnews.com/
Author: Diana Washington Valdez

9 JAILED IN EL PASO FOR ALLEGED TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS

Nine men suspected of belonging to a cell of the Juarez drug cartel were 
jailed in El Paso on drug-trafficking charges, officials said Tuesday.

In connection with the arrests, law-enforcement officers seized more than 
17.5 tons of marijuana worth about $35 million and about $1 million cash, 
said Robert Castillo, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement 
Administration in El Paso.

"This is the largest single seizure since the establishment of the Federal 
Justice Center (in West El Paso) two years ago," Castillo said at a news 
conference to announce the results of Operation Catwalk.

U.S. officials said that they did not know how so much marijuana got across 
the border, but that corruption on the U.S. side could not be ruled out. 
All the suspects were arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess and 
distribute marijuana.

Four of the men arrested are El Pasoans: Ramon Macias-Roman, 29, 1400 block 
of Gail Borden; Andres Varela, 22, 10000 block of Regina; Jorge R. Marquez, 
24, 900 block of North Zaragoza; and David Hernandez, 24, 3500 block of Kemp.

The other suspects are Leonardo Chavez-Flores, 27, of Juarez; Moises 
Medina-Beltran (also uses alias Jose Ronquillo), 47, of Sinaloa, Mexico; 
and Jose A. Sandoval, 22, Pedro Valdivia, 26, and Jorge A. 
Valdivia-Sandoval, 21, all of San Antonio.

Castillo said several agencies contributed to the investigation, which 
continues, including the El Paso Police Department, Internal Revenue 
Service, El Paso County Sheriff's Department, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation and U.S. Customs Service.

Castillo said investigators believe the suspects worked for the Gerardo 
Ulloa-Rodriguez drug-trafficking organization, a component of the Vicente 
Carrillo Fuentes drug cartel.

Ulloa-Rodriguez is believed to be in Mexico, he said.

Officials said the suspected cell has been operating in El Paso for at 
least two years.

The investigation that resulted in Saturday's arrests began in February, 
when officers seized 3,300 pounds of marijuana in El Paso.

The organization was using warehouses in the El Paso area to stage 
narcotics for transportation to eastern U.S. cities, officials said.

Investigators said they observed the members exchange cargo between trucks 
while posting lookouts.

Suspects were seen traveling to warehouses, including one in the 3500 block 
of Lee in East El Paso, and using a flatbed truck and U-Haul cargo van to 
transport drugs, investigators said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager