United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands positively responded to the DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. On Saturday October 26, 2013, the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island communities turned over 810.95 pounds of expired and unwanted medications for safe and...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Francisco Burciaga, 43, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced this morning to 20 years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for his heroin trafficking conviction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough, Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El...

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s El Paso Division and U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough, announced the indictment of 18 individuals who allegedly participated in a tri-state drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine from Arizona and Texas and distributed the drugs in Otero...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On October 23, a federal grand jury indicted a group of longshoremen working at the seaport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a co-owner of a company that provides freight transportation services and their associates, with conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess with intent to...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Coast Guard and U.S. law enforcement partners seized approximately 1,155 kilograms of (approximately 2,546 pounds), a go-fast vessel and detained three suspected smugglers, during an at-sea interdiction Friday in the Caribbean Sea south of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Five residents of Santa Fe, N.M., were arrested earlier today based on a 16-count federal indictment charging them with Oxycodone trafficking offenses. Two other Santa Fe residents were arrested on federal marijuana trafficking charges and another individual was arrested on state narcotics trafficking charges. The arrests were...

EL PASO, Texas - In El Paso this morning, U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo sentenced 25-year-old Julio Adrian Pesqueira-Galaviz, to the statutory maximum of 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his leadership role in a scheme to illegally purchase firearms in the U.S...

EL PASO, Texas - Thirty-three individuals have been arrested in El Paso for prescription fraud-related offenses, announced Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit of the Drug Enforcement Administration'(DEA) El Paso Field Division, Regional Commander Carey Matthews of the Texas Department of Public (DPS) and 34th Judicial District (DA) Jaime...

EL PASO, Texas - In El Paso, 36-year-old Manuel Gerardo (aka “Shorty”), an El Paso cell ringleader for the Vicente Carrillo Fuentes drug trafficking organization, will remain in federal custody pending trial for allegedly operating a Continuing Criminal (CCE) responsible for the smuggling and distribution of more than 1,000 kilograms...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On July 29, 2013, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned three separate indictments against 139 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District...