43 DRUG CARTELARRESTS ANNOUNCED IN SAN DIEGO

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July 18, 2011 (San Diego) -- Today, the San Diego Police Department led a multi-agency task force in a coordinated take-down of 43 high value targets with ties to Mexican drug cartels, authorities announced today. 

 

“Operation Second Sole” identified 43 suspects allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, robberies and violence in our communities.  Federal, state and local law enforcement officers and agents served arrest and search warrants throughout San Diego County to capture these individuals and disrupt their criminal enterprises, law enforcement officials announced today. 

 

 

"Many of the suspects arrested today have significant criminal histories and were considered to be armed and dangerous," said Lt. Kevin Ammon with the San Diego Police Department.  "The success of today’s operation rid the County of a serious threat to the safety and security of our citizens."

 

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said Operation Second Sole demonstrates how law enforcement collaboration benefits the community. “Our office relies on law enforcement to make our cities safe places to live,” DA Dumanis said. “This sweep shows criminals that we’re watching and that we won’t compromise public safety.”

“ATF and SDPD commenced this collaborative investigation in order to interrupt and prevent dangerous individuals from committing acts of violence in furtherance of narcotics trafficking. As a result of this joint effort, suspects implicated in criminal activity ranging from homicide to armed robbery have been taken into custody along with seized contraband, including illegal firearms and methamphetamine,” said John A. Torres, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Southern California. “The San Diego area is safer due to the diligence and careful work of the ATF and SDPD, whose shared goals include routing out violent criminals and seizing the weapons they use to perpetrate serious crimes.”

 

“ICE is steadfast in its commitment to joining forces with our law enforcement partners. We are happy to lend our expertise in dealing with violence linked to transitional smuggling networks that seek to harm our communities,” said Joe Garcia, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for ICE Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. “These criminal enterprises cross international borders and county lines, and revert to violent tactics to ensure their financial gain. Our common goal is to identify and dismantle all of the network’s cells from the top to the bottom – which is best achieved through a unified operation.”

 

 

United States Attorney Laura Duffy praised the work of the numerous law enforcement agencies involved in this year-long investigation, calling it a “great example of collaboration between state and federal agents and prosecutors to target dangerous offenders in our community.” “Our offices remain committed to protecting San Diego’s neighborhoods from drug and firearms traffickers,” stated Duffy, adding that “the numerous arrests and search warrants executed this morning demonstrate the positive impact our law enforcement partners can have at the local level through this type of joint operation.”

 

“Operation Second Sole” involved the efforts of many agencies. The San Diego Police Department worked closely with law enforcement partners in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, United States Attorney, United States Marshal’s Service, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), California Border Protection Alliance Group- HIDTA, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and Chula Vista Police Department.

 


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