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DENNIS
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AGENT’S DEATH UNLEASHES DRUG TRAFFICKING SWEEP
Authorities strike back by arresting hundreds in raids across U.S.; 8 in custody in county
KRISTINA DAVIS & DEBBI BAKER • U-T
The killing of a U.S. immigration agent in Mexico last week elicited a forceful and coordinated response from law enforcement as thousands of officers
raided suspected drug trafficking organizations in cities throughout Latin America and the United States, including eight arrests in San Diego County,
authorities said Thursday.
Three assault rifles, one shotgun, six handguns, marijuana and about $ 40,000 were seized locally in the massive sweep that has been dubbed “Operation
Fallen Hero,” in honor of slain Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata.
“This is personal,” said Louie Garcia, deputy special agent in charge for ICE’s special operations unit. “We lost an agent, we lost a good agent. And
we have to respond.”
The eight people arrested in San Diego and Spring Valley since Wednesday are among more than 500 people taken into custody in raids in cities that
include Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Miami, St. Louis, San Antonio and Newark, N.J.
They will all be questioned about the Feb. 15 shooting that killed Zapata and wounded fellow ICE agent Victor Avila in a roadside ambush in Mexico,
said Amy Roderick, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman in San Diego.
Three of the men arrested locally — Christopher Uribe, Franco Dominguez and Victorino Partida — appeared in federal court in San Diego Thursday
afternoon on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm
in furtherance of drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Four others — Shiny Star Gonzalez, John Luna, Juan Felix, and Roman Vegas
— were arrested on suspicion of various drug-related charges and booked into county jails. The name of the eighth person arrested was not released.
Several local agencies, including San Diego police, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Border Patrol and the District Attorney’s Office, aided in
the raids.
By Thursday evening, thousands of law enforcement officers nationwide had seized at least $8 million in cash and nearly 20 guns, and confiscated at
least 23 pounds of methamphetamine, 107 kilograms of cocaine, 5 pounds of heroin and 300 pounds of marijuana at several hundred locations.
The DEA effort is also being conducted in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama. The sweep is expected to continue into today.
“It shows that obviously a lot of work was done for a long time, they just pulled the trigger earlier rather than later,” said Rep. Brian Bilbray,
R-Solana Beach.
He called Zapata’s killing a “challenge to the American government.”
“We have two options, which is to totally retreat and let the cartels take over Mexico, or to be aggressive and attack them aggressively, and I think
the administration chose the right option — and that is not to retreat.”
Zapata’s slaying marks the highest-profile attack on U.S. authorities in Mexico since the 1985 kidnapping and killing of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki”
Camarena, whose family now resides in San Diego. His son is a local prosecutor.
Zapata, 32, was killed and Avila was wounded when their Chevy Suburban was run off the road by at least two vehicles loaded with armed men.
Authorities have said the agents, who were driving in a fortified vehicle with diplomatic license plates, identified themselves as U.S. diplomats in
the moments before the shooting.
Mexican authorities have arrested one person in connection with the attack, which is believed to be the work of members of Mexico’s Zetas gang. Former
Mexican special forces soldiers are among its members.
Suspect Julian Zapata Espinosa — known by the nickname “El Piolin,” or “Tweety Bird,” apparently because of his short stature — told soldiers that a
group of gunmen from the Zetas mistook the officer’s vehicle for one used by a rival gang. He was arrested in connection with the shootings.
“We are basically going out to disrupt narcotics distribution here in the United States no matter what cartel their allegiance is to,” said Carl Pike,
assistant special agent in charge of the DEA’s special operations division. “It would be futile to send a message back to one cartel when they all are
just as guilty.”
Pike said that while the sweeps are a direct response to Zapata’s killing, the majority of suspects were already targets of other investigations.
“People actually sacrificed a great deal of work” for these sweeps, Pike said. “For the lost agent’s memory, it’s important, but we’re also in a bully
situation. If we don’t push back, some other 18-year-old cartel member is going to think, ‘They didn’t do anything, so all U.S. citizens are fair
game.’ ” An officer involved in a raid in Houston was shot and wounded Thursday, though the injury was not life-threatening. The shooting occurred
during a raid by agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Houston police. The suspected gunman was also shot and
wounded and was in custody, police said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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DENNIS
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“This is personal,” said Louie Garcia, deputy special agent in charge for ICE’s special operations unit. “We lost an agent, we lost a good agent. And
we have to respond.”
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What's up with this?
Makes me feel we arn't getting undivided attention from our law enforcement agencies. They should be responding all the time.
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Cypress
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"The road goes on forever and the party never ends." ? Pretty much sums it up.
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durrelllrobert
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"The DEA effort is also being conducted in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama. The sweep is expected to continue into today."
with unarmed personnel?
Shiny Star Gonzalez was one of those arrested. with a name like that he/she should have already been in custody.
Bob Durrell
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DENNIS
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“We are basically going out to disrupt narcotics distribution here in the United States no matter what cartel their allegiance is to,” said Carl Pike,
assistant special agent in charge of the DEA’s special operations division. “It would be futile to send a message back to one cartel when they all are
just as guilty.”
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Statements, such as this, leave me with the feeling that there has been some kind of tacit agreement between cartels and US police in the past. These
statements are clear indictments in my opinion.
What have these cops been doing all this time?
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krafty
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unfortunately alot of time the cops hands are tied-my son does drug interdiction with the cg in el sal and even when they have hard evidence, like a
ROOM full of cocaine, they are told to turn a blind eye-
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woody with a view
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"Three assault rifles, one shotgun, six handguns, marijuana and about $ 40,000 were seized locally..."
impressive!
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ELINVESTIG8R
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If these bad guys are of the kidnap, torture, kill, cut-up and fillet the faces from people’s skulls leaving behind a skull with eyeballs and teeth
ilk, then the good guys should yell out as Peter O'Toole did when he portrayed Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia just
before he had his Arab forces attack the fleeing Turks.
"No Prisoners, No Prisoners"
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Dave
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An agent has to be KILLED...
for the DEA to do its J-O-B???
Despicable.
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3464james
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We seize more guns and money, on a daily basis, from local pot growers up here in Humboldt. The guns are for their own protection against other pot
pirates, or so they say. So far the only ones who want to shoot it out are the Mexiacans, they have a bad average so far. Thank heaven!
Since ICE won't come get the illegals and becasue it takes the deputy's so long to write their reports, and you can only hold these people for 24
hours before charging, they are released prior to arraignemnt. Usually never to be seen again. The beat goes on.
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Mexicorn
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When they round up those SOB's extradition to the US should be mandatory since their intention was to kill US Peace officers. Followed by a fair trial
and an expedited capital punishments.
Just my two pesos.
Also I' d like to apologise to Maggie of Maggie Madness.
I was wrong in those things I said about you and I am truly sorry if I hurt you or any members of your family in my cruel words.
Sincerely sorry Maggie
I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my juvenile behavior.
Signed
Corn dog
[Edited on 2-26-2011 by Mexicorn]
[Edited on 2-26-2011 by Mexicorn]
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MrBillM
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Rest ASSURED and Have Faith in Mexican Justice
IF it becomes necessary, the Inveterate Investigative teams made up of Juan Poirot, Miguel Hammer, Jose Rockford and Maria Marple will get to the
bottom of the killing and render up a Guilty party, no doubt, complete with confession. Said guilty party may have been fishing with his cousin Paco
in Oaxaca at the time, but he WILL have confessed.
And, all will be well once again.
He won't be extradited, though, to face Capital Punishment. That's STILL against Mexican Law, isn't it ?
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
He won't be extradited, though, to face Capital Punishment. That's STILL against Mexican Law, isn't it ? |
If the death penalty is involved, yes.
Is Capital Punshment a death sentence only? i don't know.
.
[Edited on 2-26-2011 by DENNIS]
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
for the DEA to do its J-O-B???
Despicable. |
No. But when an Agent (or any member of the USA LE community) is killed, then the capture and punishment of those responsible suddenly takes on
super-priority, and the LE community concentrates on that task, to the possible detriment of other actions that they would normally be engaged in.
Normal for this to happen----always does. Not "despicable".
Barry
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
for the DEA to do its J-O-B???
Despicable. |
No. But when an Agent (or any member of the USA LE community) is killed, then the capture and punishment of those responsible suddenly takes on
super-priority, and the LE community concentrates on that task, to the possible detriment of other actions that they would normally be engaged in.
Normal for this to happen----always does. Not "despicable".
Barry |
The seemed fact the LE knows where these guys are and what they do, and won't move on them without personal provocation, begs some questions.
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
for the DEA to do its J-O-B???
Despicable. |
No. But when an Agent (or any member of the USA LE community) is killed, then the capture and punishment of those responsible suddenly takes on
super-priority, and the LE community concentrates on that task, to the possible detriment of other actions that they would normally be engaged in.
Normal for this to happen----always does. Not "despicable".
Barry |
The seemed fact the LE knows where these guys are and what they do, and won't move on them without personal provocation, begs some questions.
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-----I won't argue with that, Dennis, but my answer was a generic one in response to the comment "despicable" which indicated to me lack of
understanding of 'how things really work'.
Barry
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gnukid
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Cops are getting busted all over: Why now???
http://www.diario23.com/noticia/2011/02/11-policias-municipa...
http://colectivopericu.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/arsenal-y-dr...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/25/...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/26/...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?ent...
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Hook
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Despicable works for me, Dave.
Average citizens can die, but it takes the death of an agent in the performance of his job (where death is an accepted possibility) to get the
enforcement wheels moving?
Despicable might be too nice a word...................
The only exception might be if the US intelligensia is worried that the injured agent had the potential of compromising ongoing investigations. And
their hand was forced to move faster than they wanted.
Barry, given your background, I'm not surprised at your take on this. But there IS a difference betweeen "normal" and "moral", sometimes.
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Despicable works for me, Dave.
Average citizens can die, but it takes the death of an agent in the performance of his job (where death is an accepted possibility) to get the
enforcement wheels moving?
Despicable might be too nice a word...................
The only exception might be if the US intelligensia is worried that the injured agent had the potential of compromising ongoing investigations. And
their hand was forced to move faster than they wanted.
Barry, given your background, I'm not surprised at your take on this. But there IS a difference betweeen "normal" and "moral", sometimes. |
You guys are exagerating----------
Human Nature, Hook, Human Nature. There is no getting around that, and to think otherwise is wishful thinking, IMO. I normally don't view "Human
Nature" as "despicable"---------
----and actually, as a 30 yr. + LE person, I understand it completely. Have you noticed how many uniformed folks attend funerals for killed
firefighters and LE officers???? These guys and gals take care of their own, and get very upset when people kill their friends and fellow officers.
Is that hard to understand???? It's called compassion, comradre, and respect, and an appropriate and not so subtle message to the crooks to "not mess
with us". Cops deal with public deaths and depravity on a daily basis as part of their job, but it is "different" when it is "one of their own".
Perhaps you don't agree, but that is the way it is, and should be, IMO.
Barry
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woody with a view
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Barry
i think everyone "cares" when a cop is killed. after all, when the last cop is killed the cartel will have to deal with the rest of "us". as a long
time ex-felon, i want to assure the rest of "us" that me and mine will be ready to stand and defend!
i should have CAPPED "us", but the sentiment woulda been different. and i've been legit for 20 years now........
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