An Overview of
Federal Drug Control Programs
on the Southwest Border
Federal Bureau of Investigation
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The FBI is charged with investigating all violations of Federal laws with the exception of those which have been assigned by legislation to other agencies. In the area of drug enforcement, the FBI supports Goal 2 and Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy by identifying, disrupting and dismantling core trafficking networks, arresting their leadership, and seizing and forfeiting their assets.
The program is structured to enhance the FBI's drug intelligence base, identify trends and make projections, concentrate resources in major centers of drug trafficking activity and provide assistance to other law enforcement agencies.
To improve the effectiveness of law enforcement to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, especially the Southwest Border, the FBI and DEA are currently engaged in a number of coordinated and aggressive investigative efforts, targeting key elements of major drug trafficking organizations.
The FBI continues its commitment to providing support for Goal 5 through efforts to strengthen cooperative law enforcement efforts with Mexico. The FBI is enhancing the level of agent and support resources along the Southwest Border and in support of Resolution Number 6, which established guidelines to improve coordination of criminal overseas investigations, with respect to drug trafficking and related areas, to prevent duplication and maximize investigative efforts conducted in foreign countries.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In December of 1995, multiple Title IIIs (court-authorized wiretaps) along the Southwest border were instituted targeting key command and control elements of three of the four target organizations, including the Amado Carrillo Fuentes Organization (ACFO), the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO) and the Juan Garcia Abrego Organization. On May 2, 1996, nationwide arrests of key individuals resulted in the disruption of the operations of the three target organizations. On October 16, 1996, Juan Garcia Abrego, former leader of the Gulf Coast cartel and one of the FBI's Top Ten fugitives, was convicted on 22 counts.
Through the use of cooperating witnesses, confidential informants, undercover operations, electronic surveillance and other traditional and non-traditional investigative techniques, FBI/DEA field offices along the Southwest border continue to aggressively target the four Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (MDTOs).
- In Dallas, through Title III coverage, informants and undercover agents, the FBI's investigation has resulted in the successful dismantling of several cells of the Jose Paz Garcia drug trafficking organization, which was directly tied to the ACFO. This enforcement action disrupted transportation and distribution in Denver, El Paso and Dallas.
- The El Paso office arrested several members of the ACFO operating in the Juarez/El Paso area.
- In an investigation targeting AFO-related corruption, several inspectors from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S. Customs Service were recently convicted. This deprived AFO from utilizing these well established contacts in key ports of entry.
