TONS OF COCAINE, MARIJUANA SEIZED
90 Arrested In Texas-Mexican Border Operation

(WASHINGTON) -- Federal law-enforcement officials yesterday announced
they had completed a two-year international investigation that led to
the arrest of more than 90 drug traffickers and the seizure of 13 tons
of cocaine, 2 1/2 tons of marijuana and more than $19 million.

The smuggling operation was centered in Mexico and funneled Colombian
cocaine across the Rio Grande to McAllen, Texas, where it was stored
in warehouses before being trucked beneath loads of fruits and
vegetables to New York City, Chicago, Atlanta and San Diego.

The cocaine was then shipped to distributors in other major cities for
street sales, the officials said yesterday.

The same truck drivers who transported the cocaine north from McAllen
brought hundreds of millions in cash south for payment to Mexican drug
lords, the officials said.

"By targeting the cartel's importation, transportation and
distribution network, we have substantially hindered their ability to
move cocaine and other drugs into, and around, this country," Attorney
General Janet Reno said.

Yesterday's announcement was not accompanied by claims that the
investigation broke any records for the amounts of drugs and cash
confiscated. But the officials were clearly elated at the level of
cooperation among law-enforcement agencies across the United States
and in other countries as well.

Louis Freeh, the director of the FBI, called the operation "an example
of what can be achieved through cooperative efforts of all
law-enforcement agencies."

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Customs Service also took
part in the operation.

Donnie Marshall, acting administrator of the drug agency, and Raymond
Kelly, the customs commissioner, said the investigation was the kind
needed to thwart sophisticated international traffickers.

One target of the operation, Jaime Aguilar Gastelum of Mexico, was
arrested yesterday afternoon by Mexican police in Reynosa, not far
across the Rio Grande from McAllen. He was taken to Mexico City
pending extradition to the United States to face felony
drug-trafficking charges.

Three other drug tycoons were seized earlier, federal officials said.
They were identified as Arturo Arredondo, who oversaw the loading of
trucks; Jesse Quintanilla, in charge of Chicago distribution, and
Jorge Ontiveros-Rodriguez, responsible for wide distribution from San
Diego.

Arredondo and Quintanilla hold joint U.S. and Mexican citizenship,
while Ontiveros-Rodriguez holds U.S. and Cuban citizenship,
authorities said.

Other suspects were identified as citizens of the United States, the
Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Federal officials said police agencies from a dozen states, Mexico and
the Dominican Republic participated in the investigation and arrests.