Posted on 02/03/2006 12:14:45 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Mexican authorities on Friday announced the capture of a top Mexican drug smuggler wanted in the United States for cocaine trafficking and money laundering and who was included among the 40 most-wanted fugitives in the world.
Oscar Arriola Marquez, leader of the Arriola Marquez cartel, was arrested on Thursday in the northern state of Coahuila, one of three states where the organization is based, Attorney General Daniel Cabeza de Vaca said.
“He is one of the drug traffickers most sought after in the United States” and among the 40 most-wanted fugitives in the world, Cabeza de Vaca said.
Mexican authorities acted on a warrant for Arriola Marquez's arrest based on a request from the U.S. to extradite him on charges of drug trafficking, introduction of cocaine into the United States, and money laundering.
The Arriola Marquez cartel distributed drugs in Colombia, Venezuela and in the U.S. states of Arizona, Illinois, North Carolina and New York, Cabeza de Vaca said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates the group has smuggled 2.4 tons of cocaine a month into the United States since 2001, he said. The cartel's other bases were located in the northern states of Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon.
Mexican authorities struck their first blow to the cartel in 2003, when they seized 2 tons of cocaine in the central state of Aguascalientes, 1.5 tons of marijuana in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, and arrested nine alleged cartel members in Mexico City, Cabeza de Vaca said.
Four other reputed leaders of the cartel were arrested during a subsequent operation in February 2004, he said.
In the first investigations of the cartel, authorities also seized numerous weapons, vehicles, telephones, radios, and aerial maps reflecting the group's smuggling routes, the attorney general said.
Authorities had properties of the cartel cordoned off in Coahuila and Nuevo Leon on Friday and planned to search the properties.
Arriola Marquez inherited the trafficking ring's leadership position after the capture of his brothers Raul and Miguel in September 2004, Cabeza de Vaca said. The status of his brothers' cases was not clear.
Lemme guess, he refused Vinnie's payoff increase?
Was he wearing a Mexican army uniform?
No, they made him take it off before they turned him over.
His last name means Head of a Cow!
He's already made bail and has promised to show up for areignment.
That scenario occurred to me as well.
OK, everyone with numbers 41 and higher move up a notch. I guess every little bit helps.
Wonder how Clinton missed giving this guy a pardon...
I think it has a great sound to it in Spanish.
A ping and a bump for Cabeza de Vaca.
Mexican authorities on Friday announced the capture of a top Mexican drug smuggler wanted in the United States for cocaine trafficking and money laundering and who was included among the 40 most-wanted fugitives in the world.
Wow, the Border Incursions must REALLY be starting to generate some heat!
Vincente and his Narco-Terrorist thugs running things in Mexico had to figure out which Narco-Terrorist to give up, in order to change the topic and tone!
In the first investigations of the cartel, authorities also seized numerous weapons, vehicles, telephones, radios, and aerial maps reflecting the group's smuggling routes, the attorney general said.
Let me guess....he's gonna be the "Fall Guy" for the "Drug Smuggling" that News crews and Texas Police have been spotting!
And now the Mexican Military will move to a new area and begin ops again in about 2 weeks. Nice alibi created.
Ha ha! What odds to the bookies place on him reaching our side of the border for trial? Would 100 to 1 be high enough?
He is a descendant of De Soto I guess. The only man to survive was Cabeza de Vaca
The heat is on, so they throw us a bone. Big F. Deal.
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