Pubdate: Wed, 21 Feb 2001
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Anna Cearley, Staff Writer

SIX LINKED TO DRUG CARTEL ARE ARRESTED

Cash, Firearms And Pot Are Confiscated

TIJUANA -- Federal authorities have arrested six more men, including a 
federal police officer, as part of an ongoing investigation of the Arellano 
Felix drug cartel's operations in Mexicali.

The men allegedly transported drugs to the United States and provided 
information and protection to higher-level members of the drug 
organization. Federal investigators also confiscated $2.5 million, 19 
firearms and 902 grams of marijuana.

Federal officials in charge of the investigation were not available for 
comment and provided information only through a press release. But Enrique 
Tellaeche, spokesman for the Baja California Attorney General's Office, 
called the arrests a good move.

"Evidently, this is a strong blow made by the federal authorities as a 
result of their investigations," he said.

The violent Arellano Felix cartel is believed to maintain a firm grip over 
most of the drug trade along the Baja California border, despite the arrest 
last year of two high-level operatives: Jesus Labra Aviles, alias "El 
Chuy," and Ismael Higuera Guerrero, alias "El Mayel."

Earlier this month, military officers tried to nab Higuera's brother, 
Gilberto Higuera Guerrero. "El Gilillo" is believed to be playing a more 
important role in the drug trafficking organization since his brother's 
imprisonment.

Officers pursuing Gilberto Higuera Guerrero during a Feb. 12 car chase were 
forced to stop by local police, and he escaped.

The interference prompted an outcry from some suspicious state officials, 
but Mexicali officials said the local police didn't intentionally interfere 
with the chase.

Although the military failed to catch Gilberto Higuera Guerrero, they did 
manage to capture a man who was allegedly with him in the Dodge Ram during 
the chase. Miguel Angel Fernandez Loera was also apparently working for the 
cartel and was carrying credentials connecting him with various law 
enforcement organizations. Fernandez is now in a Mexico City prison.

The six men arrested over the past week are:

- - Miguel Angel Garcia Serrano, a federal police officer who was allegedly 
providing protection and information to both of the Higuera brothers.

- - Moises Robles Vizcaino, who supposedly falsified documents for the cartel.

- - Alfonso Henke Ponce, Ricardo Osuna Tirado and Jesus Antonio Tirado Tapia, 
who allegedly helped transport cocaine and marijuana to the United States.

- - Jose Luis Felix Lerma, who was in charge of guarding drugs in Mexicali homes.

A Tijuana-based human rights activist who follows the drug trafficking 
culture, Victor Clark, said though the arrests may be impressive, such 
victories are frequently short-lived.

"Important people have been arrested before, but the cartels keep 
functioning because there are others who will fill their places," he said. 
"The cartels have an extraordinary capacity to reproduce themselves."
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