May 9, 2007

ICE seizes 34 kilograms of cocaine at Newark Airport
Four arrested for possession of drugs, intent to distribute

NEWARK, NJ - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents seized 34 kilograms of cocaine at Newark's Liberty International Airport and arrested four individuals.

ICE special agents working at Newark's Liberty International Airport intercepted two separate shipments of cocaine inbound to the United States from the Dominican Republic. The shipments contained a total 34 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $1 million.

As a result of this investigation, ICE subsequently arrested four individuals yesterday on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine in violation of Title 21 of the United States Code, section 841. Those arrested include Fernando Camejo, a/k/a "Maximo," a 36 year-old Fairview, New Jersey resident, Rafael Hernandez, a 46 year-old New York City resident, Mario Estrella, a 24 year-old Lynn, Massachusetts resident, and Alvin Estrella, a 19 year-old Lynn, Massachusetts resident.

According to affidavits filed in support of the criminal complaints, it is alleged that Hernandez stated that he could get drugs onto an airplane in the Dominican Republic that was bound for the United States, and agreed to send the cocaine in a bright colored bag so it could be easily identified upon arrival at Newark Liberty airport. ICE agents intercepted approximately two kilograms of cocaine on May 2nd and intercepted an additional shipment of 32 kilograms of cocaine on May 6th.

The complaints further allege that on May 6th, Mario and Alvin Estrella along with Hernandez agreed to accept delivery of the cocaine shipment that had arrived earlier that day. And on May 7th, Camejo made arrangements to accept delivery of 14 bricks of cocaine.

"Public safety is at the core of ICE's mission and keeping dangerous drugs from coming into the U.S. is just another way ICE is keeping communities safer," said Kyle Hutchins, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Newark. "We will continue to seek out and stop criminals who attempt to smuggle illegal drugs into this country."

Combining information from the ICE Office of Intelligence, and the authorities and investigative strategies of the ICE Office of Investigations, ICE has seized more than 5 million pounds of illegal narcotics since the agency was created on March 1, 2003. More importantly, ICE has helped reduce critical vulnerabilities in America's border and economic security by dismantling some of the world's most notorious criminal drug organizations in this short period of time.

ICE encourages the reporting of suspicious criminal activity related to drugs or the smuggling of illegal aliens to call its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. Investigators staff this hotline around the clock.

-- 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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