Feds: Drug bust nets 28 cartel operatives

At least 7 in ABQ among those accused of bringing in heroin, cocaine, meth

Federal authorities say 28 people, including at least seven in Albuquerque and one in Rio Rancho, are facing drug trafficking and money laundering charges in New Mexico as part of an investigation targeting a Mexican drug trafficking organization.

News media outlets were identifying the target organization as part of the Sinaloa cartel.

“The law enforcement community is sending a loud and clear message to those who traffic drugs in our communities that they cannot commit crimes in New Mexico without consequence,” Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney said in a statement.

The organization is believed responsible for importing large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico, and distributing the illicit drugs in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Illinois, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

During the investigation, authorities seized about 30 kilograms of heroin, 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 17 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of marijuana, 24 firearms, three vehicles and $102,000.

The investigation concluded Friday with an early morning, multiagency law enforcement operation executing arrest warrants in Albuquerque, Belen, El Paso and Sunland Park, with 20 arrested Friday. The alleged ringleader was not in custody as of Friday afternoon.

Tierney and Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division announced the results of the investigation Friday afternoon during a news conference in Las Cruces.

Glaspy said, “Today law enforcement in New Mexico and West Texas has dealt a severe

blow to a drug trafficking organization with ties to a Mexican drug cartel.”

The investigation targeted a drug trafficking ring allegedly led by Luis Angel Briseño-Lopez, 30, a Mexican national believed to reside in Ciudad Juárez who has not been arrested, authorities said.

The indictment includes forfeiture allegations, which seek to forfeit to the U.S. the proceeds of the drug trafficking and money-laundering activities, including $56,556 seized by the DEA during the investigation. It also seeks the imposition of a money judgment in the amount of at least $1.4 million, the amount allegedly derived from the crimes charged in the indictment.

The Las Cruces and Albuquerque offices of the DEA conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police and Hatch Police Department.

Chief Pete Kassetas of the State Police said these kinds of cases are great examples of how local, county, state and federal agencies are working with state district attorneys and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute those responsible for their crimes.

“This operation reinforces that there are consequences to those that choose to conspire to illegal narcotics crimes in our communities and state,” he said.

Authorities identified the 28 defendants in addition to those from Albuquerque and Rio Rancho: one from Belen and several from Sunland Park, Anthony, N.M., Chaparral, Las Cruces, Santa Rosa and El Paso.