Border Security

Criminal Cases Publications

Successful anti-smuggling investigations involve federal, state and local agencies working together to attack criminal organizations from the top down. In addition to the historic Western Union settlement, cases investigated and/or prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office include:

Human Smuggling Ring Take Down, 2010

  • Smuggled aliens were transported from the border to the various shuttle companies or drop houses in Tucson.
  • More than 800 agents from nine law enforcement agencies were involved in the bust, which seized a total of seven weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and more than 40 vehicles.
  • There are currently 47 persons in custody.
  • In addition to the criminal arrests, the case indictments include criminal forfeiture allegations valued at $10 million.
  • Key arrests were made in both Arizona and Mexico through unprecedented cooperation with Mexican law enforcement.

Operation Vaqueros, 2010

  • Mexican drug trafficking organization believed responsible for moving at least 40,000 pounds of marijuana through southern Arizona, primarily through Cochise County
  • Organization used advanced counter-surveillance, ramp trucks to overcome vehicle barriers at the border, and hidden vehicle compartments
  • “Operation Vaqueros," a 36 month collaborative investigation by state, local and federal law enforcement offices, yielded 39 state and federal indictments and 34 arrests
  • Twelve people have been indicted on federal conspiracy charges.   In the course of the investigation, 26 people were indicted on federal charges, and 13 on state charges

Operation ‘Los Tusa’, 2009

  • Quick Action by Law Enforcement Stops Flow of Thousands of Pounds of Marijuana into Pinal County Annually
  • Seizure of $418,640 in U.S. currency, nearly 4,000 pounds of marijuana, 21 vehicles and several assault rifles
  • 21 indicted on charges including possession and transportation of marijuana for sale, money laundering, conspiracy and illegally conducting an enterprise
  • Identification and closure of multiple stash houses in Pinal County
  • Organization used a network of vehicles and individual walkers who carried backpacks filled with 50 - 100 pounds of marijuana each to smuggle across the Arizona desert from the border to southern Pinal County
  • Walkers were allegedly met by drivers in southern Pinal County who transported the drugs to stash houses throughout the county for subsequent sale and distribution
  • Mesa, Tempe and DPS SWAT teams joined PCSO multi-agency SWAT team during the execution of the high risk search warrants

Operation Tumbleweed, 2008

  • One of the largest drug trafficking take-downs in Arizona history
  • 59 indicted, 39 arrested on felony drug trafficking charges
  • Garibaldi-Lopez organization brought two million lbs. of marijuana to the U.S.
  • Traffickers used sophisticated automotive and surveillance technology to bring drugs across the border, through the desert to Phoenix drop houses
  • Year-long investigation required 85 agents from ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs Air and Marine, DEA, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, DPS, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Phoenix Police

Operation En Fuego, 2008

  • 35 indicted, 12 arrested on felony smuggling and money laundering charges
  • Organization made $63,000 per week and smuggled a total of 10,000 undocumented immigrants in two years
  • Used a fleet of vans to transport immigrants from Phoenix to 22 states
  • Seven-month investigation conducted by the Financial Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Border Patrol

X-Calibur Gun Store Take-Down, 2008

  • Owner allegedly conspired with straw buyers who smuggled guns to Mexico
  • Owner allegedly instructed straw buyers on ways to falsify purchase forms
  • Seized 1,300 weapons, including AK-47s, assault rifles, other long guns
  • Hundreds of guns found in Mexico have been traced to X-Calibur
  • Eleven-month investigation conducted by the U.S. Marshall; U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and Phoenix Police

Operation River Walker, 2008

  • One of the largest human smuggling take-downs in Arizona history
  • 48 indicted for smuggling 8,000 undocumented immigrants per year across border to Phoenix drop houses
  • 13 drop houses seized, 20 arrested, 210 undocumented immigrants turned over to ICE
  • Defendants made $130,000 weekly transporting up to 60 people per day
  • Organization believed to have been active for nearly 10 years
  • Used specialized “sub-contractors” to facilitate transport along route including “walkers” to take immigrants across San Pedro River, drop house operators, bank account holders, and load drivers
  • Seven-month investigation conducted by the Financial Crimes Task Force

Operation Fly By Night, 2007

  • Case won top award given by International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2007
  • 16 indicted in one of the largest human smuggling busts in state history
  • Defendants made nearly $2 million running two drop houses, six travel agencies
  • Smuggled 6,800 undocumented immigrants across the country from Phoenix drop houses
  • Provided false identification, ground transportation to Las Vegas and one-way tickets from Las Vegas airport to destinations across U.S.
  • Year-long investigation conducted by the Financial Crimes Task Force

Used Car Lot Seizures, Ongoing

One prominent case:

  • 21 defendants indicted on felony conspiracy, trafficking charges
  • Seized 11 used car lots, 400 vehicles (worth $1.5 million)
  • Used cars from Valley dealerships used to move humans, drugs across state
  • Sophisticated operation provided phony titles to cars to avoid detection
  • Year-long investigation conducted by the Financial Crimes Task Force, DOJ

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