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Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protections, Office of Field Operations’ (OFO) Tucson Field Office and Border Patrol’s Tucson and Yuma Sectors announced today the results of drug interdiction operations along the border from March 6 through May 8. HSI and OFO’s Operation Blue Lotus, along with the Four Horsemen operation coordinated by the Border Patrol, seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine and interdicted more than a ton of fentanyl.
Representative drug cases referred federally for prosecution include the following:
Department of Homeland Security law enforcement personnel interdicted more than just drugs during these operations. The facts underlying United States v. Jesus Castillo Durazo reflect quick work by agents with HSI and the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in interdicting crates of .50 caliber ammunition bound for Mexico.
“Thanks to the efforts of our partners at the Department of Homeland Security, we prevented substantial amounts of fentanyl and other drugs from reaching Arizona neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “These operations resulted in interdictions at four different ports of entry in addition to two checkpoints, and we appreciate the fine efforts of the law enforcement officers and their canine partners.”
“The success of this initiative is largely attributed to the federal, state and local partners that spent countless hours not just by responding to port calls but assisting HSI with seizures throughout Arizona,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Drugs, but especially fentanyl are decimating communities, but together and with education, we all can make a significant impact in curbing the senseless deaths associated with the sale of these deadly drugs. I thank every agent, officer, trooper and anyone else that stood alongside HSI throughout the surge to support many of our efforts.”
“The successes we’ve seen at our ports cannot be overstated. Our continued layered enforcement actions, our entire team’s dedication to protecting the homeland, and collaboration with our federal partners are key to fulfilling our mission,” said Guadalupe Ramirez, Director of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection.
“Collaborative efforts like these are critical to protecting towns and cities across the country,” said Tucson Sector Border Patrol Chief John Modlin. “Border security is national security, and I am immensely proud of the men and women who performed these operations to keep drugs like fentanyl from reaching our communities.”
“The success of the Four Horsemen operation was due to the collaborative efforts and teamwork of multiple agencies. I am especially proud of the Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents who worked tirelessly during this operation to take deadly drugs off our streets and out of the communities we proudly serve,” said Chief Patrol Agent Yuma Sector Patricia McGurk-Daniel.
A complaint or indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CASE NUMBERS: CR-23-00507-JCH; CR-23-00508-JGZ; CR-23-00574-JGZ; CR23-00689-SHR; CR-23-00594-MTL;
CR-23-00690-JGZ; 23-08751MJ; 23-02741MJ; 23-01837MJ; CR-23-00596-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-074_Blue Lotus/Four Horsemen
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Public Affairs
Diana L. Varela
(602) 514-7743
diana.varela@usdoj.gov