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 January
2001
OPERATION WHITE HORSE
 On
January 18, 2001, the DEA, FBI, IRS and the U.S. Customs Service concluded
a 10-month investigation designed to dismantle an organization responsible
for placing high-purity Colombian heroin on America’s streets, particularly
in the Philadelphia area known as the “Badlands”. Operation
White Horse, an OCDETF operation, was an effort by the above mentioned
agencies alongside state and local authorities, especially the Philadelphia
Police Department, as well as the Colombian National Police (CNP). It
was coordinated by DEA’s Special Operations Division. This highly
successful operation had the effect of dismantling an entire international
heroin trafficking organization from its headquarters in Colombia to its
street-level dealers in Philadelphia.
What started as a
street-level heroin investigation targeting Jhon Marulanda, a Colombian
national, quickly expanded into a multi-national operation focusing on
Dominican and Colombian distribution cells smuggling heroin from Pereira,
Colombia, through Aruba, to New York City for eventual sale in Philadelphia.
The distribution cells used couriers to swallow heroin-filled pellets
for transport to New York City. The New York Division uncovered a money-laundering
scheme, in addition to the extensive heroin smuggling operation. Based
on information obtained from the Philadelphia Title-III, New York DEA
investigated Evelio Brito. Brito, identified as the leader of the New
York cell, coordinated couriers, collected narcotic proceeds, and provided
heroin for Marulanda.
 Brito’s
cell used a telecommunications facility in New York to facilitate laundering
narcotics proceeds. The New York investigation also revealed the organization
laundered proceeds by having couriers swallow rolls of U.S. currency for
transport to Colombia. One cooperating defendant admitted to ingesting
$170,000.
To date, Operation
White Horse has resulted in 111 arrests and the seizure of 22 kilograms
of heroin, 10 kilograms of cocaine, 15 weapons and approximately $1.3
million in U.S. currency. “This joint investigation represents law
enforcement cooperation at its best. Working together, the participating
agencies and the government of Colombia have taken steps to make our streets
and communities safer,” said Attorney General Janet
Reno. “Fewer drugs on the streets means less crime
and more opportunity for all of our communities.”
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