AZMEX UPDATE 11-5-13

AZMEX UPDATE 11 MAY 2013



MCSO: 10 caught in human smuggling operation
By KTAR Newsroom
Originally published: May 11, 2013 - 3:07 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1633741/10-caught-in-human-smuggling-operation

PHOENIX -- The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said three juveniles
and seven adults were detained in a human smuggling operation.
An eight-year-old, 11-year-old and 16-year-old were caught with a
group of adults traveling through northern Maricopa County on Friday.
The 11-year-old was unaccompanied and not related to the other adults
under investigation.

MCSO said they have arrested six of the suspects, while three minors
and one adult were turned over to the Immigration Customs and Reforms
Agents.

Also, according to MSCO, the alleged suspects had paid approximately
$4,000 to be smuggled illegally into New York and Georgia.

end


FBI makes additional drug-related arrest in Anthony, NM
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 05/11/2013 12:37:51 AM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_23218146/fbi-makes-
additional-drug-related-arrest-anthony-nm

FBI agents have arrested another man - raising the total to 26
arrests - in connection with a drug-dealing investigation that
resulted in several raids Wednesday in Anthony, N.M., area, officials
said Friday.
Federal agents arrested Rudy Portillo, 54, of Anthony, N.M., who
allegedly took part in a conspiracy to distribute heroin.
FBI officials said the last remaining fugitive is Gerardo Garcia, 63,
of Vado. Anyone with information on Garcia's whereabouts may call the
FBI in Albuquerque at 505-889-1300.

END



Falfurrias men sentenced in pot smuggling case
Posted: Friday, May 10, 2013 8:08 pm
Jacob Fischler | The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_586d31a2-
b9d7-11e2-9791-001a4bcf6878.html

Four Falfurrias men were sentenced to stints in federal prison Friday
for their roles in a large-scale marijuana distribution conspiracy
and possession of more than 1,000 pounds of the drug.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sentenced Edward Mata, 28,
Richard Scott Patton, 41, and Luis Andres Longoria, 40 to three years
in federal prison. She sentenced Servando Guerra, 62 to a longer
prison term: 46 months.
All the men will be under supervised release for five years after
leaving prison.
The conspiracy was carried out between September 2008 and January
2011 through ranches around the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint,
investigators determined.
The organization was led by Jose Maria Carbajal, Jr., 42, also of
Falfurrias, from his Brooks County ranch. Prosecutors took up
Carbabjal's case separately. He has been sentenced to nine years in
prison.
The criminals loaded four-wheel-drive vehicles with marijuana, then
navigated through ranches and brush to a rendezvous point north of
the CBP checkpoint. At that point, the drugs would be transported by
more traditional means farther into the United States.
Investigators spelled out the individuals' roles in the organization.
Longoria and Gonzales helped scout ranches and roads. Longoria and
Patton drove the vehicles loaded with drugs through ranches until
they reached their destination north of the CPB checkpoint, where
Gonzales usually took over. Mata assisted Carbajal in planning the
drugs' transportation. Both Mata's and Longoria's homes were
frequently used to store large quantities of marijuana. Guerra also
assisted in transporting the drugs.

END