Drug Intelligence Brief
DRUG INTELLIGENCE TREND:
INCREASE IN MEXICAN COURIERS TRANSPORTING COLOMBIAN HEROIN TO MEXICO
DECEMBER 2002
 Colombian
trafficking organizations have traditionally used couriers to transport
heroin to transit and destination countries. However, according to reporting
in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2002 from various DEA
country offices, there has been an increase in the number of Colombian
heroin seizures involving couriers who were Mexican nationals. The increased
seizure reporting emanating from Mexico, Central and South American transit
countries, and Colombia suggests a trend by drug traffickers to recruit
Mexican nationals to transport Colombian heroin to Mexico.
Most of the seizures involved heroin sewn
into clothing packed in checked baggage. In some cases, heroin was discovered
in the linings of suitcases and in shoes. Heroin pellets were swallowed
on two occasions.
Based upon available intelligence, it appeared
that Mexican national couriers, arrested in connection with recent seizures
of Colombian heroin, most likely were recruited by Colombian heroin trafficking
organizations. However, the possibility remains that some of these couriers
were acting on behalf of Mexican trafficking organizations. Additional
investigation is required to identify the heroin trafficking organizations
involved, as the few detainees willing to cooperate have provided only
limited intelligence.
Cases involving Mexican nationals, who were
detained in Colombia from April through August 2002, are as follows:
 May
14—Colombian authorities at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport
seized 6 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national scheduled to board
Avianca Airlines flight number 72 to Mexico City. The heroin was sewn into
clothing contained in a large duffel bag;
May 23—A
Mexican national at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport was arrested
in possession of 3 kilograms of heroin hidden in packed clothing. The individual
was scheduled to take Avianca Airlines flight number 72 to Mexico City;
In May—A
Mexican national was arrested while attempting to board a cruise ship in
Cartagena, Colombia. The 1 kilogram of heroin he was smuggling was seized.
The cruise ship had been destined for Miami, Florida;
June 13—Colombian
authorities at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport seized 10 kilograms
of heroin from a Mexican national scheduled to board Avianca Airlines flight
number 72 to Mexico City. The heroin was sewn inside clothing contained
in an oversized travel bag;
June 22—A
Mexican national was arrested at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport
in possession of 17 kilograms of heroin, sewn inside clothing contained
in checked luggage. The individual was scheduled to board Avianca Airlines
flight number 72 to Mexico City;
June 25—Colombian
authorities seized 20 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national at Bogotá’s
El Dorado International Airport. The individual was attempting to board
Mexicana Airlines flight number 392 to Mexico City. The heroin was concealed
inside clothing packed in his suitcase;
August 2—A
Mexican national was arrested at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport
while attempting to board Mexicana Airlines flight number 722 to Mexico
City. The heroin was secreted within jackets;
August 12—Colombian
authorities seized 8 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national at Bogotá’s
El Dorado International Airport. The individual was attempting to board
Mexicana Airlines flight number 392 to Mexico City. The heroin was concealed
inside the soles of tennis shoes and in the false sides of checked luggage;
August 17—A
Mexican national was arrested in Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport
and 10 kilograms of heroin were seized. The heroin was sewn into his clothing.
The detainee was scheduled to board Mexicana Airlines flight number 722
to Mexico City.
Cases involving Mexican nationals detained
in transit countries with Colombian heroin are as follows:
April 8—Brazilian
authorities in Manaus, Amazonas, seized 5 kilograms of heroin destined
for three Mexican couriers. Arrested in the seizure were two Colombian
nationals and one Brazilian national;
May 24—Panamanian
authorities arrested a Mexican national attempting to smuggle 1 kilogram
of heroin, concealed in the inner lining of a duffel bag;
May 31—Ecuadorian
authorities in Quito seized 2 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national
en route to Mexico City. The heroin was concealed inside the false side
of a suitcase;
June 15—Ecuadorian
authorities in Quito seized 5.5 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national
en route to Mexico City. The heroin was concealed in clothing within a
suitcase;
June 18—Panamanian
authorities in Vacamonte executed a search warrant and seized 7 kilograms
of heroin, two industrial sewing machines, and one press. Three Colombian
nationals were arrested. The organization reportedly used couriers (including
Mexican nationals) to transport the heroin, sewn inside clothing, to Mexico;
June 24—Ecuadorian
authorities in Guayaquil seized 3.65 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican
national en route to San Jose, Costa Rica. The heroin was concealed inside
the false sides of a suitcase;
July 4—Panamanian
authorities seized 12 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national on a
passenger bus en route to the Costa Rican border at Paso Canoas. The heroin
was concealed inside 12 jackets;
July 19—Ecuadorian
authorities in Guayaquil seized an undetermined amount of heroin from
a Mexican national en route to San Jose, Costa Rica. The heroin had been
swallowed;
August 3—Ecuadorian
authorities in Quito seized 1.105 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national
en route to Mexico City, via San Jose, Costa Rica. The heroin was concealed
in the lining of luggage;
August 7—A
Mexican national, reportedly a member of the Mexican Federal Police, was
arrested in Panama’s Tocumen International Airport while in possession
of 510 grams of heroin (by internal body carry). The individual was en
route from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Mexico City via Copa Airlines flight
number 210;
August 8—Mexican
authorities seized approximately 7 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican
national arriving in Mexico from Cali, Colombia. The heroin was sewn into
the liners of several jackets;
August 16—Venezuelan
authorities in Caracas seized 25 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national
scheduled to fly to Mexico City aboard Mexicana Airlines flight number
374. The heroin was concealed inside the lining of six sport jackets contained
in checked luggage;
August 22—Ecuadorian
authorities in Quito seized 1 kilogram of heroin (by internal body carry)
from a Mexican national as he attempted to board a TACA flight destined
to Santiago, Chile;
August 26—Mexican
authorities seized 3 kilograms of heroin from a Mexican national arriving
from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The heroin was sewn into several jackets;
August 27—Mexican
authorities seized an undetermined amount of heroin from a Mexican national
arriving from Panama City, Panama. The heroin was sewn into the liner
of several jackets.
| This
report was prepared by the DEA Intelligence Division, Domestic Heroin
Unit and coordinated with DEA Country Offices in Bogota, Quito, Panama
City, Caracas, and Brasilla. This report reflects information received
prior to September 19, 2002. Comments and requests for copies are
welcome and may be faxed to the Intelligence Production Unit, Intelligence
Division, DEA Headquarters, at (202) 307-8726. |
DEA-02053
|
