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18 February 2005

U.S. Grand Jury Indicts 21 in Guatemalan Drug-Trafficking Case

Cocaine, heroin imported to United States from Guatemala

By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted 21 people for their alleged involvement in an organization that imported and distributed cocaine and heroin into the United States from Guatemala, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In a February 16 statement, ICE said the indictment alleges that from February 2001 to February 2004, the organization coordinated the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and/or heroin to numerous customers by, among other methods, installing and concealing kilogram quantities of drugs in car batteries, using couriers to smuggle the batteries across the Mexican border into Texas, and redistributing the drugs to locations in the Maryland suburbs of Washington.

The indictment also alleges that the defendants used drug proceeds to purchase vehicles for export to Guatemala, and to make money-wire transfers from Maryland and other locations to individuals in Texas, Mexico and Guatemala.  The indictment includes charges stemming from the seizure of 8 kilograms of heroin and over 24 kilograms of cocaine, and also seeks forfeiture of $5 million in assets, including vehicles and jewelry.

ICE made the announcement following the arrests in Guatemala of several of the individuals named in the indictment.  Some defendants in the case have already pleaded guilty to felony drug-trafficking offenses, and face maximum penalties of life imprisonment and a $4 million fine.  ICE indicated that U.S. authorities would seek extradition to the United States of the individuals named in the indictment, although three of the accused are fugitives and remain at large.

The case is "yet another example of our commitment to dismantle international drug cartels which poison our communities here at home,” said U.S. Attorney Allen Loucks.  “The indictment is the result of collective national and international law enforcement efforts to shut down drug trade routes which originate in foreign countries."

Cynthia O'Connell, an ICE special agent in charge, added that the case is a "classic example of both domestic and foreign law enforcement cooperation in identifying new and unique smuggling methods in an attempt to get drugs" into the United States.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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