WASHINGTON, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Victor Varela, the
alleged leader of a firearms trafficking network operating in Arizona and New
Mexico, was arrested by special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive
Task Force and Attorney General's Office in Arizona, today announced ATF
Special Agent in Charge William Newell of the ATF Phoenix Field Division and
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
As part of an ATF Project Gunrunner investigation, law enforcement officers
disrupted a group of gun traffickers and recovered several weapons, including
.50-caliber semiautomatic rifles and several handguns, allegedly intended to
supply drug trafficking organization (DTO) members of the Juarez Cartel in
Palomas, Mexico, located just south of Columbus, N.M. State charging documents
allege that Varela and his co-defendants, who acted as "straw purchasers,"
purchased a number of firearms in Arizona for the purpose of supplying them to
DTOs in Mexico. Allegedly, the group transported the illegally purchased
firearms to New Mexico, then into Mexico for use in ongoing confrontations
with rival DTOs and with law enforcement authorities in Mexico.
"The quick action by ATF in this investigation exemplifies our commitment to
cut off the illegal flow of firearms to violent criminals in the United States
and Mexico," said Newell. "The Arizona Attorney General's Office and ATF are
working closely together to address the concerns of the Government of Mexico
regarding firearms trafficking. This is just one of many ongoing
investigations by ATF Phoenix and its law enforcement partners."
"This case was made one of our highest priorities because of the nature of the
crime alleged to be committed by Varela. This arrest is a direct reflection of
our commitment to assist not only law enforcement agencies within the United
States, but our international partners as well," said U.S. Marshal David
Gonzales.
Along with the seized firearms, Varela was attempting to purchase a fully
automatic, M-60 machine gun for a DTO associate in Palomas. Additionally, a
number of firearms recovered by Mexico law enforcement and military personnel,
recently mobilized to de-escalate gun violence in Palomas and Juarez,
Chihuahua, allegedly were trafficked by Varela's gun smuggling network. ATF,
through its attache office in Mexico City and special agents on the southwest
U.S. border, is sharing law enforcement intelligence with counterparts in
Mexico to assist in their ongoing investigations tied to the gunrunners.
Varela is in the custody of the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Office on
fraudulent schemes charges, and is being prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney
General's Office. Along with ATF and the attorney general's office, the U.S.
Marshals Service and Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted in the
investigation and arrests. More information on ATF and Project Gunrunner can
be found at http://www.atf.gov/.
CONTACT: Drew Wade, +1-202-648-8500, or PIO Tom Mangan, +1-602-859-6317, both
of ATF
SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Drew Wade, +1-202-648-8500, or PIO Tom Mangan, +1-602-859-6317, both of ATF
