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Most Wanted News: U.S. National Major Drug Trafficking Busts Across the Country
Milestones in 3 drug trafficking operationsDecember 15, 2007 U.S. NATIONAL NEWS -- Federal, state and local law enforcement reached milestones in three drug trafficking investigations that led investigators across the country in a nationwide sweep of arrests and seizures. The investigative operations code named, "Operation Funk 49," "Operation Latitude Adjustment" and "Operation Shooting Star" targeted drug trafficking organizations with bases on both the East and West Coast. The West Coast portion of the drug trafficking investigation, "Operation Funk 49," reached a milestone on December 3, 2007, in San Diego, California, while the East Coast investigations, "Operation Latitude Adjustment" and "Operation Shooting Star" reached milestones in Atlanta, Georgia on December 11, 2007. "Operation Latitude Adjustment" and "Operation Shooting Star," the two multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency investigations on the East Coast, were coordinated through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The investigations targeted major Mexican drug trafficking organizations smuggling cocaine, methamphetamine (ICE) and marijuana into the United States for distribution in Georgia, California, North Carolina, New York, as well as other states. These investigations focused on two separate Mexican-based drug organizations that regularly cooperated in using transportation routes into and out of the Atlanta area. Investigators determined that the targeted organizations regularly transported large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana from the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Guerrero, and Michoacan to the Atlanta area, and then transported currency accumulated from the sale of the drugs back through Atlanta to be smuggled across the Southwest border into Mexico. 
As of December 11, the evidence seized in two days from searches and arrests included 111 kilograms of coke, 17 bricks of crystal meth, $8,000,000 to $10,000,000 in gwap. At least 32 firearms, including handguns and assault rifles were also seized. In Operation Latitude Adjustment, the drug trafficking organization allegedly used Atlanta, Georgia primarily as a transshipment and distribution point. Some of the drugs may have stayed in the Atlanta area for local junkies, but investigating agents believe the majority of the drugs were sent onto other areas along the East Coast, including Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Virginia for distribution. Operation Latitude Adjustment has resulted in 12 arrests and the execution of six search warrants. In addition, 22 defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on December 4, 2007, in Operation Latitude Adjustment. Operation Shooting Star was started in October 2006 and was led by the David Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force. In March 2006, the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began investigating the Georgia-based traffickers identified in Operation Latitude Adjustment. Both investigations have been designated as OCDETF investigations, which recognizes the highest priority cases for Federal drug prosecution. Operation Shooting Star has resulted in 35 arrests and the execution of 19 search warrants. Furthermore, 20 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury on December 4, 2007, and then 25 more additional defendants were charged by criminal complaints filed on December 6 and 7, 2007, in Operation Shooting Star. 
In Operation Shooting Star, the drug trafficking organization allegedly coordinated the receipt and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana to states all along the Eastern Seaboard and into the Midwest. The organization also used Atlanta as the hub for the collection of drug proceeds from its East Coast distributors for shipment back to Mexico. In just the six months preceding the takedown, Operation Shooting Star seized more than $12,000,000 in drugs and drug proceeds just from the Atlanta area, along with numerous weapons, including handguns and assault rifles. The investigation also has identified and dismantled sham businesses established by the organization that were used to facilitate and disguise its drug trafficking activities. On December 3, 2007, Operation Funk 49, concluded with the USDJ, and the DEA partnered with other law enforcement agencies reporting the windup of a three-year undercover drug trafficking investigation targeting an international drug operation originating in Guadalajara, Mexico. The drug organization had a vast distribution network based in San Diego County. Operation Funk 49, began in April 2004, after a tip to law enforcement from a low-level junkie. Investigators followed the drug trail to key distributors in San Diego. During the three-year undercover operation, law enforcement eventually targeted dozens of suspects and continued to patiently follow the complicated drug distribution web to cities across the country, which led to the creation of Operation Latitude Adjustment and Operation Shooting Star. The drug organization smuggled large quantities of meth, coke, and heroin from Guadalajara, Mexico, through Tijuana, Mexico into the United States. From there, it was distributed throughout San Diego County and onto cities including: 
In San Diego County, more than a dozen warrants were issued, resulting in the arrests of 59 individuals and the confiscation of two pounds of heroin, 1,246 bricks of coke, and 604 pounds of crystal meth. In addition, law enforcement officials confiscated more than $9.1 million in gwap, 28 rides and several weapons. Charges filed against the defendants include drug smuggling, drug trafficking, conspiracy and probation/parole violations. Due to the length of the investigation, some defendants have already been prosecuted, some have been arraigned, and arrest warrants have been issued for the remainder. In Georgia, more than 585 pounds of cocaine were seized as well as $1.26 million. An additional $767,000 was seized by DEA in New York as the result of information uncovered in the investigation. On December 11, 2007, Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Atlanta, commented on the success of the two East Coast operations by saying, "Today, law enforcement disrupted and dismantled two distinct, but inter-related Mexican-based drug trafficking organizations that shared common resources. These organizations might still be thriving, had it not been for the spirited efforts of over 300 dedicated law enforcement officers representing a myriad of agencies. We have removed in excess of 27 million dollars of filthy money from these traffickers and have taken thousands of pounds of dangerous drugs off of our streets. True justice has been served." 
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis commenting on Operation Funk 49 said, "This operation has dismantled a nationwide drug trafficking organization that had gained a foot-hold in San Diego County. It's another excellent example of cooperation between law enforcement agencies at the county, state and federal level." DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Ralph Partridge, said of Operation Funk 49, "Our Special Agents in conjunction with other law enforcement personnel were tireless in their efforts as they pursued this drug ring across the country. The arrests and seizures are the results of a combined effort of multiple county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Successes like Operation Funk 49 are making an impact in our communities nationwide." Finally, United States Attorney David E. Nahmias commenting on the East Coast operations said, "These operations have crushed two major drug trafficking organizations. The seizure of all this dope and all this money and the arrest of all of those players in the organization means that somewhere in Mexico right now, there are some very unhappy drug kingpins. Our message to them is that we will continue to do everything we can to make the Atlanta area a place where they don't dare to operate. The two operations are allegedly linked by drug dealers using the same couriers of both drugs and money. Targets in both Operation Shooting Star and Operation Latitude Adjustment received narcotics from common suppliers in Mexico. These are on-going investigations and our many agencies working together will continue the aggressive fight against the illegal drugs that poison communities in Georgia and across the country." In conclusion, with a "thank you" to the law enforcement agencies within the Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force, the Atlanta HIDTA Task Force, and the men and women who participated in Operation Funk 49, for their diligent work and contribution to fighting the war on drugs. Published by da: # # # |
