News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2008
Contact: Matthew Taylor
Public Information Officer
915-832-6000

Nine Members of the Jorge Mercado-Alcocer Organization Arrested

SEP 24 -- (El Paso, Texas) – William S. Leonard, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), El Paso Field Division, announced the arrests of Jorge MERCADO-Alcocer, Jesus M. RUVALCABA-Razo, Gustavo NUNEZ Del Toro, Carlos NUNEZ-Del Toro, Mariana GARICA-Duran, Carmen Magda-CASTILLO, Isai PALOMINO-Camacho, Jose NUNEZ-Del Toro, Osmund Emanual CASTREJON and the recovery of two stolen vehicles on September 19, 2008 .

The Jorge Mercado Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) has been the subject of a DEA Task Force investigation initiated by the DEA, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso Police Department, United States Border Patrol, and the United States Attorney’s Office. The nine (9) defendants were integral members of an international, multi-kilogram, drug trafficking organization responsible for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds. The organization was based in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

William S. Leonard Acting Special Agent in Charge stated “Illegal activities associated with drug trafficking and associated violence will not be tolerated. These arrests would not have been possible without the cooperation and critical assistance of our law enforcement partners. The DEA and its law enforcement partners will hold organizations like the Mercado DTO accountable and responsible for their illicit activities.”

The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through the due process of law