La DEA combate al cártel de Sinaloa con éxito; le aseguraron más de 150 millones de dólares en el último año

La Agencia Federal Antidrogas (DEA) informó hoy que resultado de la creación de una división de investigaciones en la ciudad Phoenix, Arizona, denominada Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force, desde hace más de un año, se ha logrado la detención de 93 traficantes de drogas, presuntos integrantes del cártel de Sinaloa, a los que la ha incautado unos 150 millones de dólares en efectivo.

A través de su sitio oficial, la DEA sostiene que la OCDETF está integrada por las diversas agencias y oficinas dedicadas a la seguridad en Estados Unidos y la frontera con México, como son DEA, ATF, la Oficina Federal de Investigaciones (FBI), el Servicio de Alguaciles de EE.UU. (USMS), la División Criminal del Servicio de Rentas Internas (IRS); EE.UU. de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE ), el Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Arizona, la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Maricopa, y el de Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson y el sur de los Departamentos de Policía.

\”Las fuerzas de ataque de la OCDETF, como la de Phoenix, reflejan el tipo de enfoque de colaboración en la aplicación de la ley , lo cual permita combatir eficazmente la mayoría de las organizaciones de tráfico de drogas, como el cártel de Sinaloa, que contribuyen a la violencia y otros delitos en los barrios aquí y en todo este país \”, dijo el Fiscal General Adjunto de EU, David W. Ogden.

Explicó que desde su creación, en agosto de 2008, la OCDETF ha centrado su trabajo completamente en las investigaciones de mando y elementos de control del Cartel de Sinaloa y Arizona, basado en las células de distribución asociadas con el cartel.

Desde su creación, la Phoenix Strike Force ha incriminado a el Cártel de Sinaloa tras haber realizado acciones en por lo menos 80 puntos de actuación relacionados con las organizaciones del narcotráfico, y ha sido directa e indirectamente responsables de la incautación de más de 150 millones de dólares estadunidenses, activos asociados, y financieros. Además, la información proporcionada por ese organismo ha llevado a la incautación de más de 29 millones en efectivo y activos en México y 93 detenciones en los Estados Unidos.

\”La DEA ha contraatacando con éxito a los cárteles mexicanos que utilizan Phoenix como un importante punto de transbordo para sus operaciones de narcotráfico\”, dijo el Administrador Interino de la DEA, Michele M. Leonhart, quien indicó que se \”en coordinación con la Administración de Calderón, nos dirigimos y detener a los traficantes de drogas que más afectan Arizona, interrumpir sus operaciones en México y los Estados Unidos. Este multi-agencia Strike Force, que ya ha ayudado a derribar importante liderazgo Cartel de Sinaloa, es una herramienta de probada aplicación de la ley para hacer frente a los retos que afrontamos a lo largo de la frontera del sudoeste. \”

Texto íntegro en inglés

Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorney, and Other Federal and Local Officials Unveil New OCDETF Strike Force Site, Highlight Successes
of Phoenix Operation

Multi-Agency Group in Phoenix Responsible for 93 Arrests and $150 Million in Seizures

OCT 01 — PHOENIX – Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden, along with U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke, Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Kenneth Melson, Drug Enforcement Administration Deputy Chief of Operations Dave Gaddis, and other federal and local officials today officially unveiled the new Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force site in Phoenix.

The Phoenix Strike Force is housed in the offices of the DEA Phoenix Division.  The OCDETF Strike Force functions as a cohesive unit by bringing together representatives of the partner agencies to more effectively focus on specific investigative targets.  Federal, state, and local agencies represented include the DEA; ATF; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the Criminal Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the Arizona Department of Public Safety; the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; and the Phoenix, Mesa, and South Tucson Police Departments .

“OCDETF Strike Forces, like the one here in Phoenix, reflect the kind of collaborative law enforcement approach that allows us to most effectively combat the vicious drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel that contribute to violence and other crime in neighborhoods here and across this country,” said Ogden. “Now in its 27 th year, the OCDETF program has been a model of interagency coordination, innovation, and teamwork.  This strategy recognizes that the most successful way to fight these intricate criminal networks is by combining the strengths, resources, and expertise of federal, state and local agencies.”

“By concentrating experts from so many agencies in one place, the strike force model allows for real-time sharing of intelligence and deployment of strategy,” stated U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Dennis K. Burke.  “That advantage allows strike force agents to react more decisively to interdict the actions of large, sophisticated and violent drug trafficking organizations. Coordination leads to better intelligence, quicker reaction and more convictions.”

The Phoenix Field Division formed an OCDETF Strike Force in August 2008 that focuses completely on investigations of command and control elements of the Sinaloa Cartel and Arizona-based distribution cells associated with the Cartel.

Since its inception, the Phoenix Strike Force has indicted a Sinaloa Cartel associated CPOT (Consolidated Priority Organization Target) and RPOT (Regional Priority Organization Target), conducted in excess of 80 wire taps of Sinaloa Cartel related Drug Trafficking Organizations, and has been directly or indirectly responsible for the seizure of over $150 million dollars in U.S. currency, associated assets, and financial instruments.  In addition, information provided by the Phoenix Strike Force has led to the seizure of over $29 million in cash and assets in Mexico and 93 arrests in the United States.

“DEA is successfully striking back at the Mexican Cartels that use Phoenix as a major transshipment point for their drug trafficking operations,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “In coordination with the Calderon Administration, we are targeting and arresting major drug traffickers impacting Arizona, disrupting their operations both in Mexico and the United States.  This multi-agency Strike Force, which has already helped take down significant Sinaloa Cartel leadership, is a proven law enforcement tool for tackling the challenges we face along the Southwest Border.”

“Within the OCDETF arena, ATF maintains its focus on major drug traffickers who use firearms to further their trade and violate firearms-trafficking laws, as well as laws relating to explosives,” said ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson.  “Firearms often serve as a form of payment for drugs and, together with explosives and arson, are used as tools by drug organizations for purposes of intimidation, enforcement, and retaliation against their own members, rival organizations, or the community in general.  ATF’s jurisdiction and expertise make it a well-suited partner in the OCDETF program.”

Based on the success of the Phoenix Strike Force Group, an additional Strike Force Group was formed in the Phoenix Field Division’s Tucson District Office in June 2009.  The Tucson Strike Force Group is comprised of law enforcement personnel from DEA, ATF, ICE, FBI and the South Tucson Police Department.  Both Strike Force Groups will continue to pursue OCDETF case designations for federal prosecution and will work in a complementary role with the Arizona HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area).