Defendant Allegedly Led Multi-Million Dollar Mexican Marijuana Trafficking Organization

Bruno Garcia-Arreola, a Mexican national and allegedly one of the leaders of an organization that sent tons of marijuana from Mexico to the United States, has been extradited from Mexico to face a federal indictment in the Eastern District of New York that charges him with drug trafficking conspiracy and bail jumping. He will be arraigned on Thursday, November 10, 2011, at 11:00 A.M. before United States District Judge Thomas C. Platt at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York.

The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Charles G. Dunne, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York, and Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration in New York.

In 2003, Arreola was arrested in Las Vegas by Special Agents of the DEA after a lengthy investigation in which two tons of marijuana and $11 million in cash were seized. DEA had lured Arreola to Las Vegas where he traveled by private plane from Mexico. Subsequent to his arrest, and over the objection of federal prosecutors, Arreola was released on an unsecured $20,000 bond but failed to appear in federal court in the Eastern District of New York. He was then indicted, and the apprehension responsibility for his capture was delegated to the United States Marshals Service (USMS). The USMS New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, assisted by Interpol and Mexican law enforcement authorities, spent years searching for Arreola and finally apprehended him in Mexico in April 2011.

“Arreola’s extradition demonstrates that neither time nor geography will prevent law enforcement in the United States and abroad from locating and apprehending those facing international drug trafficking charges,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “The partnership of the federal government with the international law enforcement community has produced outstanding results, and I commend the cooperation of our colleagues both in the United States and abroad for their extraordinary efforts.”

United States Marshall Dunne stated, “The United States Marshals, working with our law enforcement partners at home and abroad, never stopped looking for Arreola for eight years. This case illustrates that once the United States Marshals start looking for you there really is nowhere you can hide.”

DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Plummer stated, “This extradition brings one of our most wanted fugitives back to New York to face criminal allegations. DEA and our international, federal and local law enforcement partners have succeeded in removing one more name from our fugitive list – Bruno Arreola.”

If convicted on the drug conspiracy charge, Arreola faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and up to life.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Burton T. Ryan, Jr.

The Defendant:

BRUNO GARCIA-ARREOLA
Age: 53

 

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