“Operation Vaqueros” Hits Mexican DTO

DTO believed responsible for bringing over 40,000 pounds of marijuana into Arizona; 34 arrested

APR 27 -- TUCSON, Ariz. – Federal, state, and local officials today announced arrests and charges against a Mexican drug trafficking organization believed responsible for moving at least 40,000 pounds of marijuana through southern Arizona, primarily through Cochise County. The organization employed advanced counter-surveillance, ramp trucks to overcome vehicle barriers at the border, and hidden vehicle compartments.

Seven federal wiretaps approved in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed “Operation Vaqueros” for the “Cowboy” attire worn by members of the drug trafficking organization, were unsealed by order of the U.S. District Court. Twelve people have been indicted on federal conspiracy charges. In the course of the investigation, 26 people were indicted on federal charges, and 13 on state charges.

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Elizabeth Kempshall, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent in Charge Matthew Allen, and Attorney General Terry Goddard, were joined by White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske at the federal courthouse in Tucson to announce the results of the coordinated investigation alongside numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

“Today’s actions are yet another strike against the powerful drug trafficking organizations whose tentacles stretch across the Mexico border and into the U.S.”, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Elizabeth W. Kempshall “In Arizona and all across our nation’s Southwest Border, DEA and our partners are determined to find them, shut down their operations, and bring them to justice.”

The 36-month investigation “Operation Vaqueros” has yielded 39 state and federal indictments, and 34 arrests, including one employee of the Cochise County Attorney’s Office, arrested on January 26, 2010 on state charges she provided confidential information to one of the drug traffickers in exchange for money. That information was derived from a Title III wiretap, one of seven wires approved for “Vaqueros” as federal agents began honing in on the organization. Six of those indicted federally remain at large and are believed to be in Mexico.