February 16, 2007

Six Charged in ICE-led Probe that Nets Record California Heroin Seizure
Street value of drugs found in Anaheim home estimated at up to $6 million

SANTA ANA, Californa - Six suspects are in custody today in connection with an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that culminated Wednesday night with the recovery of more than 120 pounds of brown heroin from an Orange County home, the largest seizure of Mexican heroin in California history.

The six defendants in the case, including four men from Mexico and two Anaheim women, appeared in federal court here yesterday where they are charged with possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, a violation that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The United States Attorney for the Central District of California is prosecuting the case.

The arrests and record heroin seizure came after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of entry in San Ysidro discovered a possible heroin smuggling scheme and alerted ICE. ICE, aided by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and officers from the Irvine and Anaheim police departments, traced the drugs to an Anaheim home at 1454 West Chevy Chase Drive. Wednesday night, authorities searched the residence, seizing the cache of heroin, along with more than 30 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

"The seamless coordination between ICE in San Diego and Orange County, together with the extraordinary efforts of the other law enforcement agencies involved in this case, have dealt a significant blow to the heroin supply in Southern California," said Serge Duarte, acting special agent in charge for ICE in San Diego. "This enforcement action prevented more than 700,000 doses of a highly dangerous drug from reaching the streets of our communities."

"Border security is a top priority for Customs and Border Protection at the ports of entry, and drug seizures such as this are an integral part of that security," said Adele Fasano, director of field operations for San Diego. "Anytime we can stop dangerous drugs from reaching our streets, is a good day for CBP."

The seized heroin has been turned over to the DEA for further analysis and testing. Authorities estimate the heroin would have sold for as much as $6 million on the streets. Brown heroin, like black tar heroin, is produced in Mexico from the opium poppy. Brown heroin is the refined powder that was the staple of Mexican heroin trafficking until the 1980s, when black tar heroin became the more predominant variety.

Those charged in the case are:

• Luis Alcantar-Cardenas, 28, of Michoacan, Mexico;
• Jose Casares-Macias, 22, of Michoacan, Mexico;
• Rosendo Churape-Cardenas, 37, of Michoacan, Mexico;
• Jairo Ortiz-Diaz, 26, of Michoacan, Mexico;
• Jacqueline Pimentel, 31, of Anaheim; and
• Rosa Soto, 26, of Anaheim.

At Thursday's hearing, all of the defendants except Rosalbo Soto were ordered held without bond. U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Nakazato set bond for Soto at $200,000. A post indictment arraignment for all of the defendants, except Soto, is set for March 5 at 10:00 a.m. Soto's arraignment is scheduled for March 12. Meanwhile, ICE's investigation into the heroin smuggling scheme is ongoing.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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