ICE Puerto Rico Target Operation Arrests 27 Drug Traffickers

Twenty-seven alleged members of a Puerto Rican drug trafficking and money laundering organization responsible for the importation of multi-kilograms of cocaine into the United States were arrested Friday, November 9, 2012, in several municipalities of Puerto Rico.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, working jointly with Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and San Juan Police Department (SJPD) officers, launched Operation Caribbean Pirates Phase II as part of HSI’s strategy to dismantle drug lord Jose Figueroa-Agosto’s, aka Junior Capsula’s, drug trafficking organization.

"The indictment and arrest of these individuals sends a clear message to those involved in drug trafficking and money laundering that HSI will go after them, bring them to justice and seize the assets produced by their illicit activity," said Angel Melendez, acting special agent in charge of HSI Puerto Rico.

Jose Figueroa-Agosto, 47, the leader of the largest drug trafficking organization in the Caribbean, and 12 other members of his organization were arrested by HSI special agents Nov. 21, 2010.

The group was charged in a 12-count indictment with conspiracy to import narcotics into the United States, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and money laundering. The indictment also seeks to forfeit the proceeds obtained as a result of such offenses, up to an amount of $100 million.

On Friday, November 9, 2012, HSI special agents arrested 27 additional alleged members of Figueroa-Agosto’s drug trafficking organization who, according to the indictment, played the role of transporters and facilitators for the organization. As part of the conspiracy, it is alleged that these individuals smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic in private vessels. The narcotics were then distributed in Puerto Rico and the continental United States. Part of the drug proceeds would also be smuggled from Puerto Rico back into the Dominican Republic in bulk cash quantities.

Those arrested were:

·                             Alex Manuel Rivera-Figueroa

·                             Alexis Centeno-Luciano

·                             Axel Ramos-Echeandia

·                             Bryan Mulero-Rivera

·                             Carlos Rodriguez-Millan

·                             Carlos Latoni-Morales

·                             Carme Gonzalez-Colon

·                             Esaul Hernandez

·                             Felipe Encarnacion-Paredes

·                             Fernando Nieves-Lopez

·                             Harold Luciano-Betancourt

·                             Ismael Otero-Paris

·                             Jeffrey Nunez-Jimenez

·                             Jonathan Alfonso-Rodriguez

·                             Jose Luis Morales-Varona

·                             Luis Rivera-Dones

·                             Norma Vazquez-Figueroa

·                             Obie Colon-Pena

·                             Paulino Mejias-Garcia

·                             Rafael Fuentes-Miranda

·                             Reinaldo Martes-Perez

·                             Ruben Mendez-Matias

·                             Yamil Davila-Lopez

·                             Yolymar Negraon-Cosme

·                             Ysmael King-Almeida

·                             Juan Carlos Berrios-Sanchez

·                             Eddie Brito-Martinez

Those arrested were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. One remaining suspect, Cesar Caballero-Collazo, remains a fugitive.

If the allegations contained in the indictment result in convictions, all defendants shall forfeit to the United States properties and/or cash for a total of $100 million.

If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, and fines of up to $4 million. Defendant Figueroa-Agosto is facing a mandatory life sentence if found guilty of the continuing criminal enterprise charge.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected weapons and narcotics smuggling and related information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. For more information, visit www.ice.gov.

ICE Releases Results of Operation Caribbean Resilience

As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) ongoing commitment to interrupt and dismantle criminal organizations and to identify and arrest individuals involved in criminal activity, the agency announced Monday, May 14, the results of a four-month enforcement operation dubbed "Caribbean Resilience," which led to the arrest of more than 220 criminals and the seizure of more than 142 illegal arms.

Operation Caribbean Resilience is a joint initiative led by HSI that includes the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the San Juan Police Department (SJPD) in response to the unprecedented number of violent crimes committed in Puerto Rico last year. The operation, which began in January 2012, has netted hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegals arms as well as narcotics. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently joined the initiative.

"The results of this operation show the commitment of HSI, and that of our partners in PRPD and SJPD, to rid our communities of individuals involved in criminal activity," said Angel Melendez, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "Because of the hard work and efforts of HSI special agents and PRPD and SJPD officers, we have 221 fewer criminals and 142 fewer illegal arms in the streets, thus making our neighborhoods safer. This is only the beginning of a series of surges to return our communities to law abiding citizens from unscrupulous criminals who have no respect for human life and dignity."

Operation Caribbean Resilience began in the municipality of Loiza, Puerto Rico, a town considered by law enforcement as an area of high intensity criminal activity where last year, from January to May 2012, a total of 12 homicides were reported by PRPD. This year, during the same period, and under Operation Caribbean Resilience, only six homicides have been reported. This represents a decrease of 50 percent in homicides in the area. This tendency also applied for other types of crimes, such as robbery and assault, which experienced a decrease by 78 and 52 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

In the entire region of Carolina, Puerto Rico, which covers the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, Carolina North, South, and West, the tourist zone, and Loiza, the initiative netted more than 73 criminal arrests, which resulted in 34 indictments and six criminal complaints, and the seizure of 48 illegal weapons, 1,747 rounds of ammunition, and more than $30,000 in cash in addition to significant amounts of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and crack cocaine.

In the area of Caguas, Puerto Rico, which encompasses the municipalities of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cidra, Gurabo, Juncos and San Lorenzo, Operation Caribbean Resilience netted 87 criminal arrests, of which 53 will be prosecuted at the federal level. Thus far, the initiative has resulted in the seizure of 78 illegal arms, 2,751 rounds of ammunition, $52,000 in cash and a significant amount of narcotics.

So far in the metropolitan area of San Juan, where the initiative was launched in early May, HSI special agents and task force officers have made 20 criminal arrests – two of which were on PRPD's list of the 10 most wanted fugitives – and seized 14 illegal arms and 388 rounds of ammunition.

Although the surges are not limited to public housing projects (PHP), but to all high intensity crime areas, some of the PHPs where a significant number of arrests have taken place are: Luis Llorens Torres, where seven of the 11 leaders of a drug trafficking gang have been identified and arrested; Monte Hatillo, where two of PRPD's most wanted were arrested and its residents tried to repel law enforcement by intimidation and resistance; Las Margaritas, where a PRPD police officer was injured by an individual who was later placed under arrest; Manuel A. Perez, a PHP at war with Ramos Antonini; Villa Palmeras; Nemesio Canales; Cupey Bajo; Bartolome de las Casas; Praxedes Santiago in Cidra, where two individuals allegedly involved in the shooting of the Cidra Municipal Police Station were arrested; Lopez Sicardo; Yukiyu in Loiza; and Jardines del Paraiso.

So far, the initiative has netted 221 arrests, and the seizure of 142 illegal weapons, 4,905 rounds of ammunition, $85,000 in cash, and cocaine, heroin, marijuana and crack cocaine.

Operation Caribbean Resilience Arrests 6 in Puerto Rico

Law enforcement authorities made six arrests and seized illegal weapons and drugs in Puerto Rico as part of Operation Caribbean Resilience.

Operation Caribbean Resilience is a joint initiative led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that includes the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the San Juan Police Department (SJPD).

As part of the operation, special agents and officers arrested William Oyola Mulero, 27, of San Juan, Wednesday at the Alturas de Cupey public housing project in San Juan. Officers seized 45 bags of marijuana from Mulero in making the arrest.

In the same housing complex, HSI and local partners seized a .40 caliber, series 22 Glock pistol; a .40 caliber, series 23, Glock pistol; 58 rounds of ammunition; and four .40 caliber magazines.

At different locations within the public housing complex, task force officers seized five additional .40 caliber magazines; 58 rounds of 9 caliber ammunition; an AR15 rifle; 427 rounds of 2.23 caliber ammunition; a 9 caliber, Sig Sauer model P229 pistol; a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver; 52 rounds of 9 caliber ammunition; three .40 caliber and two 9 caliber magazines; and 910 capsules of crack cocaine.

On Tuesday, Luis Esteban Guzman Gonzalez, 18, was arrested at the Jardines del Paraiso public housing project in San Juan by members of the task force. Guzman Gonzalez was in possession of one bag of marijuana, a .40 caliber Beretta pistol and a .40 caliber magazine. Similarly, Jose Ocasio Santiago was arrested in possession of 32 grams of marijuana and 13 grams of cocaine.

Three other individuals were also arrested by members of the task force Tuesday whose cases were accepted by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico for prosecution. Ruben Vazquez Viust, Roberto Cruz Olavarria and Anthony Fuentes Quiñones were arrested at the Jardines del Paraiso public housing complex for possession of illegal weapons. Task force officers seized a .40 caliber Glock pistol; 46, .40 caliber rounds of ammunition; and three magazines from Vazquez Viust. A 9 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol; 49, 9 caliber rounds of ammunition; and two magazines were seized from Cruz Olavarria while an AK-47 rifle; a .40 caliber Glock pistol; and 47, 7.62 caliber and 11, .40 caliber rounds of ammunition were seized from Fuentes Quiñones.

Operation Caribbean Resilience, an HSI-led, PRPD and SJPD joint effort to initiate a series of public safety law enforcement surges against violent crimes and illegal activity in areas of high intensity criminal activity and drug trafficking in response to the unprecedented number of violent crimes committed in Puerto Rico last year. The operation, which began in January, has netted hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegal arms as well as narcotics.