Now that the New Year has begun, drug smuggling hilltop scouts have returned to their posts and West Desert Task Force continues their interdiction of drugs entering into the United States.
While smuggling remains a year-round venture for drug cartels, movements to push drugs over the border generally slow down during the holiday season. That is short lived, however, and members of law enforcement have already become aware of hilltop scouts returning to the hills on the Tohono O’odham Nation.
In the spring of 2014, the West Desert Task Force began targeting hilltop scouts, who act as traffic guards alerting drug smugglers as to law enforcement activities and advising them on which paths to take through the desert.
In total, the West Desert Task Force carried out three stings, each spanning several days, on the hilltops and arrested 19 individuals. Working with the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, the majority of these individuals were charged with Conspiracy to Possession of Marijuana for Sale, a class 3 Felony and most have been sentenced to 2.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.
ITERATION 1 – 3/7-3/10:
Two (2) defendants have cases outstanding and were both set for trial in January 2015.
1. Jesus Heriberto Nunez-Rios, 27 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
2. Jose Gambino-Ruiz, 26 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
3. Jose Javier Aispuro-Rodriguez, 23 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
4. Sergio Ramirez-Ojeda, 32 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
5. Francisco Noriega-Nunez, 30 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
6. Jose Miguel Ochoa-St. Cairos, 31 of Mexico, Currently set for trial Feb 2015
7. Jesus De La Rocha-De La Rocha, 26 of Mexico, Currently set for trial Feb 2015
ITERATION 2 – 9/3-9/19:
Eight (8) defendants arrested and indicted.
1. Bernardo Medina-Felix, 22, Change of Plea/Trial Setting 1/26/15
2. Jose Angel Felix-Ramirez, 25 of Mexico, Bench Warrant
3. San Ventura Ruiz-Aispuro, 27 of Mexico, Change of Plea/Trial Setting 1/26/15
4. Gaudencio Astorga-Soto, 20, 2.5 years in DOC
5. Gerardo Gastelum-Ramirez, 31, 2.5 years in DOC
6. Jose Coronel-Pena, 30, 2.5 years in DOC
7. Antonio Nunez-Valenzuela, 18, 2.5 years in DOC
8. Daniel Quinones-Silbas, 45, 2.5 years in DOC
ITERATION 3 – 10/12-10/23:
Four (4) defendants arrested and indicted.
1. Jose G. Aispuro-Angulo, 34 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
2. Jose Isabel Aispuro-Angulo, 29 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
3. Amador Patino-Munguia, 38 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
4. Jesus Aragon-Mancinas, 24 of Mexico, 2.5 years in DOC
Since its inception in 2012, the West Desert Task Force has seized 101 tons (203,176.93 pounds) of marijuana, made 1,677 apprehensions, seized or recovered 514 vehicles and seized or recovered 67 firearms.
The WDTF is a joint initiative between U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office to combat narcotics trafficking in the West Desert region of Arizona. The task force is supported by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and works in association with the Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (ACTT) and its participating agencies.
Sheriff Babeu stated, “By crippling the cartels’ ability to move drugs without fear of law enforcement involvement, they are being forced to use different passage to cross the border. We will continue to target and apprehend those individuals enabling the free flow of drugs into Pinal County and the United States.”
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