Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jun 2002
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Kate Berry, Associated Press Writer

FOUR DRUG NETWORKS LINKED TO ARELLANO FELIX GANG RAIDED IN U.S.

LOS ANGELES- Four networks that distributed illegal drugs across the nation 
for the Tijuana, Mexico-based Arellano Felix cartel were dismantled 
Thursday with raids in California and four other states, law enforcement 
authorities said.

Thirty-two people were arrested and arrest warrants were issued for 38 
others in the latest round of a continuing investigation called Operation 
Vice Grip, local, federal and state officials announced at a press conference.

Search and arrest warrants were served at 30 locations in Southern 
California. Others were served in New York, Arizona, Minnesota and Connecticut.

Some 400 law enforcement officers and agents were involved in the raids 
targeting major Mexican drug transporters in the Los Angeles area. The drug 
cartel shipped narcotics from Los Angeles via commercial airlines and 
trucks for distribution in Boston, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, New York, and 
Newark, N.J., police said.

The Arellano Felix organization is Mexico's largest drug gang. Before 
Thursday's raids, authorities had already seized $13.9 million in 
narcotics, including 13.5 tons of cocaine, 46 pounds of methamphetamine, 
and 4,768 pounds of marijuana, and made 234 arrests during the two-year 
nationwide investigations.

But drug shipments have not halted.

"We still see major loads of cocaine coming across the border," said 
Michele Leonhard, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in 
Los Angeles.

Mexico's attorney general said this week that the Arellano Feliz 
organization remains strong despite the death of top enforcer Ramon 
Arellano Felix, who was shot by police in February, and the capture a month 
later of his brother, Benjamin, who oversaw daily operations.

The gang is believed to have shipped tons of cocaine and marijuana through 
the border city of Tijuana and on to distributors in California and the 
Midwest over the past two decades. It also is believed to have been behind 
more than 300 murders.

Los Angeles Police Chief Martin Pomeroy described the group as "a poison 
that is affecting our children."

The new attack on the organization included nearly 10 provisional arrest 
warrants served in Mexico for alleged drug lieutenants Ismael 
Higuera-Guerro and Mario Alberto Russel-Gamez, both of whom were arrested 
in May 2000.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley is seeking extradition of 
the men and is still looking for others, including Bernardo DelaCerra, 
known as "Don Ben," who is a fugitive.

"This narcotics trafficking is nothing more than organized crime," said Cooley.

He said that Thursday's raids also included arrests of Juan Ramon Camacho 
and Rosario Uriarte, alleged to be leaders of Los Angeles cells in the 
trafficking network. Arrests were made in Los Angeles, Compton, Inglewood, 
Riverside, San Diego and South Gate said Los Angeles police Detective 
Gerard Kennelly.

The investigation of the Arellano Felix organization has involved the 
dismantling of drug cells from 26 cities in 18 states since Operation Vice 
Grip began, police said.
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