‘Fast and Furious’ Linked to Immunity Deal Between U.S. and Sinaloa Cartel, Trafficking Defendant...

CNSNews.com ^ | December 29, 2011 | Edwin Mora

[neverdem]

‘Fast and Furious’ Linked to Immunity Deal Between U.S. and Sinaloa Cartel, Trafficking Defendant Alleges in Court Papers

A Mexican drug trafficker awaiting trial in a Chicago federal court claims that the notorious Sinaloa cartel received weapons from "Operation Fast and Furious" under an alleged immunity agreement that the U.S. government made with cartel leaders, in exchange for information on rival gangs.

The defendant in a trafficking case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Vicente Jesus Zambada-Niebla, also claims the immunity deal allowed the criminal cartel to "continue to smuggle tons of illicit drugs" into the United States.

He wants the U.S. government to provide documents relating to the botched gun running sting operation along the southwest border, arguing that it would benefit his defense.

Operation Fast and Furious, which began in September 2009, saw the Phoenix office of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives supervise the sale of guns to straw purchasers with the intent of tracing the guns to Mexican drug trafficking organizations and prosecuting their members. The ATF allowed about 2,000 guns to be sold in this manner.

The operation came under congressional scrutiny after it was linked to the December 2010 murder of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry at the hands of Mexican bandits.

An investigative report, spearheaded by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), found that most of the weapons provided to Mexican criminals under the operation were going to the Sinaloa cartel, arguably one of the world's largest drug trafficking organizations.

In a court pleading filed last July, Zambada-Niebla made the claims about an immunity deal.

"Mr. Zambada-Niebla believes that the documentation that he requests will confirm that the weapons received by Sinaloa Cartel members and its leaders in Operation 'Fast & Furious' were provided under the agreement entered into between the United States government and [a Mexican lawyer] on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel that is the subject of his defense...," it said.

"Mr. Zambada-Niebla believes that the documentation will also provide evidence showing that the United States government has a policy and pattern of providing benefits, including immunity, to cartel leaders, including the Sinaloa Cartel and their members, who are willing to provide information against rival drug cartels."

The defendant argued that he is protected from federal prosecution for trafficking drugs into the U.S. between 2004 and 2009 under an alleged immunity deal struck between the U.S. government and Sinaloa leaders.

According to court documents, Zambada-Niebla claims that the immunity deal provided the cartel's leadership with "carte blanche to continue to smuggle tons of illicit drugs into Chicago and the rest of the United States" in exchange for information on rival drug cartels.

U.S. prosecutors deny the existence of such an immunity deal between the U.S. government and the cartel.

Nevertheless, the U.S. government last September filed a motion to invoke the Classified Information Procedures Act, which is aimed at assuring that national security information stemming from criminal cases – such as details associated with CIA operations – are not leaked to the public during court proceedings.

In a court pleading filed in September, U.S. prosecutors claimed that Zambada-Niebla's allegations about Fast and Furious have no merit.

"Defendant requests all information in the possession of the U.S. government related to an ATF investigation referred to as 'Fast and Furious'..." it said. "Defendants request related to Fast and Furious... and other unrelated matters are gratuitous and wholly unrelated to any legitimate discovery issues in this case."

Zambada-Niebla, who was arrested in Mexico in March 2009 and extradited to the U.S. eleven months later, is accused of smuggling tons of cocaine and heroin into the U.S.

He claims he was working on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, court documents show.

The defendant's pleading highlighted a July 2011 letter sent by Issa and Grassley to Attorney General Eric Holder, "suggesting that multiple United States agencies were employing as informants members of Mexican drug organizations."

"The evidence seems to indicate that the Justice Department not only allowed criminals to smuggle weapons, but that tax payers' dollars in the form of informant payments, may have financed those engaging in such activities," the pleading added.

[hoosiermama]

That’s a possibility, Mew. Is this the “missing link/blue dress/smoking gun???

MM have you seen this one?

Mag,can we get more names to cross reference?

[mewzilla]

And while we're on the subject of Barry's deals with the devil.....

U.S. Hopes to Continue Talks with Taliban in 2012

It's a pity nobody gave a dang about the Lockerbie bomber deal. It was an instructive preview of coming attractions.

[newfreep]

Big Govt (Crony) Socialism - choosing the winners and losers in the illegal drug cartels.

[eyeamok]

Our government has been involved in this crap for 50 years, remember it was not long after the CIA was Caught red handed smuggling cocaine and made public through the Kerry Commission, that the Attorney General under Reagan, William French Smith, went before Congress, begged for and received “Special Permission” to continue their DRUG SMUGGLING OPERATION. See Michael Reagan if you don’t believe, cuz it is absolutely established FACT. So why would anybody be surprised.

[Venturer]

The worst part about this story is it’s ring of truth and the fact that it is very believable.

Our government has sunk so low that this incredible story is probably true.

[Erik Latranyi]

Be careful here, folks.

First, drug kingpins lie about everything and should not be trusted, even if their story sounds plausible.

Second, Sinaloa is competing with Los Zetas. If this was an effort to disrupt Los Zetas, it could fly back into our faces. You see, Los Zetas are linked to Hezballah and have been helping the islamists establish camps in Mexico.

If Obama/Holder come out in the weeks before the 2012 election with arrests of islamists in Mexico due to intelligence gathered by the Sinaloa cartel, they could look like heroes (despite 300+ dead in the US and Mexico)

We have been setup before on stories (the Michelle tapes), so let’s keep our powder dry.

[Hotlanta Mike]

Thanks neverdem.

...in exchange for information on rival gangs.

Zero will negotiate with anyone, without conditions — other than the condition that it damages US interests.

---

Weren’t the progs calling this “Smart Power” a few years back?

[MinuteGal]

Greta was way off the beam last night in her interview of Rush.

She claimed F & F is a law enforcement issue.....that it was NOT a surreptitious attack on the 2nd Amendment by the Obama/Holder unholy alliance.

This woman can be so incredibly naive every once in a while.

Rush set her straight on the issue with his usual well-reasoned bolts of enlightenment.

With an overly-casual smile, Greta moved quickly on to another subject.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

Greta was way off the beam last night in her interview of Rush.

She claimed F & F is a law enforcement issue.....that it was NOT a surreptitious attack on the 2nd Amendment by the Obama/Holder unholy alliance.

This woman can be so incredibly naive every once in a while.

Rush set her straight on the issue with his usual well-reasoned bolts of enlightenment.

With an overly-casual smile, Greta moved quickly on to another subject.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

Sorry for the double post. Computer really acting up this morning.

Leni

[mewzilla]

Speaking of Greta, from a few weeks ago, a tidbit I tucked under my tinfoil chapeau....

Fox News' Greta Van Susteren says Husband's Relationship with Herman Cain Not Conflict

Hmmmmm......

[Mr. Jeeves]

So “Arms for Cartels” is a more nuanced policy than “Arms for Hostages”. I guess. :)

[Safetgiver]

The defendant argued that he is protected from federal prosecution for trafficking drugs into the U.S. between 2004 and 2009 under an alleged immunity deal struck between the U.S. government and Sinaloa leaders....There Ya go. Obama got in on the tail end.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Obama could appear on LIVE TV and say ah akbar and eat something dead with blood dripping all over his face and his eyes girate about all evil and he would still be the president and the media would still cover for him;not a soul would say impeachment,obstruction or corruption and if anyone dared to say anything bad about him they are just racists move along nothing to see here.

[hoosiermama]

Mine did the same...Maybe it’s a FR problem.

Are you sure Greta was not just playing devil-advocate? She could have been setting Rush up to make the point, but still staying within the FOX guideline of not attacking the gov without proof in hand. Tend to think the smile was a check of accomplishment. I’ve seen her set up others, it seems to be her MO. She’s good at it....very smooth.

[bcsco]

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[Little Ray]

Problems is, the Bush administration DID have a “Fast and Furious” type operation - but none of the guns got away and none of them were used to murder people. It is awfully hard to spin that...

[qaz123]

His lawyers need to bail him out and hire some former CAG guys to protect him. If, even an inkling of what he is talking about is true, this proves that this administration is nothing but a gang of criminals. Ones that would make a James Bond villain look okay.

[rodguy911]

Thanks for posting this. It’s key stuff about who the regime really is! They are no better than legitimized terrorists working to destroy the U.S from within.

[rodguy911]

You gotta wonder if the CIA is still partially funded by drugs....especially black ops.