Federal authorities dismantled a large drug trafficking organization alleged of importing narcotics from Mexico through the southern border.
The drug trafficking organization, comprised of over a dozen individuals, was run by three brothers, Hector Valdez, 47, Claudio Valdez, 44, and Juan Valdez, 50, all of whom are Dominican nationals living in the U.S., according to a statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The three brothers, previously deported after being convicted of felony drug crimes, are accused of arranging multiple shipments of large quantities of heroin and cocaine to be shipped into the U.S. from Mexico.
Named “Operation Triple Play,” the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force assembled an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and began investigating the three brothers last September.
After a nearly eight-month-long investigation, federal agents executed search warrants this week which led to the seizure of a significant number of narcotics. The seizure included, “nearly 4 kilograms of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of cocaine, 155 grams of crack cocaine, more than 100 pounds of cutting agents, [and] approximately 12 kilograms of powdery substances that have been sent for laboratory analysis,” the DOJ revealed in the statement.
Authorities also seized nearly $100,000 in cash and several vehicles, many of which had secret compartments that are commonly used to conceal narcotics.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued detainers for 9 of the 15 arrested on federal arrest warrants. The nine placed on holds are all believed to be Dominican nationals, many of whom are living in the U.S. based on stolen identities.
Commenting on the destruction that drug cartels bring to local communities, Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Field Division, said, “This case illustrates that drug cartels based in foreign countries will go anywhere to distribute their deadly products.”
The announcement comes just two days after Attorney General (AG) Jeff Sessions sent a memo instructing United States Attorney’s to focus on prosecuting criminal aliens who are bringing narcotics into the U.S.
Ryan Saavedra is a contributor for Breitbart Texas and can be found on Twitter at @RealSaavedra.
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