HomeNewsBriefDEA Takes Stock of Operation Aimed at Sinaloa, Juarez Cartels
BRIEF

DEA Takes Stock of Operation Aimed at Sinaloa, Juarez Cartels

JUAREZ CARTEL / 10 DEC 2012 BY GEOFFREY RAMSEY EN

The DEA has released the results of a two-year-long investigation into the international connections of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and Juarez Cartel, which it says resulted in nearly 4,000 arrests and the seizure of six tons of cocaine, among other drugs. 

On December 6, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced the end of "Project Below the Beltway," an operation that began in May 2010 and focused on two of the top drug trafficking organizations in Mexico: the Sinaloa and Juarez Cartels. The operation included investigations in major cities in the United States, as well as Central America, South America and Europe.

According to the DEA's press release, 3,780 suspects were arrested as part of the project, and the initiative resulted in the seizure of 6,100 kilograms of cocaine, 4,464 kilograms of methamphetamine and 158 kilograms of marijuana. Associated investigations also led to the seizure of $148 million dollars in cash and $38 million dollars in other assets.

InSight Crime Analysis

In truth, it's hard to tell who is part of which Mexican cartel these days, especially in countries outside of Mexico. These organizations are more disperse and operate more horizontally than hierarchically. Control of the entire distribution chain -- from point of production to point of sale -- is nearly impossible. So the claims that all those arrested absolutely pertain to these organizations rings hollow, however impressive the sheer number remains. 

The timing of the announcement is also somewhat surprising, as the DEA usually only releases the results of such long term investigations if it ends with the arrest of a high-profile criminal figure, it is prompted by a congressional oversight hearing, or it is about to present its yearly results to Congress in an effort to boost funding or manpower. No such kingpin was recently arrested for either cartel, and there are no upcoming hearings for the DEA. (The last House Oversight Committee meeting for the DEA was in June.)

One reason for the announcement could be a change in Mexico's political climate. Former President Felipe Calderon stepped down on December 1. He was succeeded by Enrique Peña Nieto, and it may be that the DEA was unsure about continuing with such an ambitious operation with the new administration, an untested variable.

On the other hand, it may also be that the operation simply ran its course. The arrest of 3,780 people is significant, and law enforcement scored several points against both of these criminal organizations since 2010. The Juarez Cartel has become severely weakened, and a number of Sinaloa figures were taken down druring this time, including the right hand man of the Sinaloa Cartel's Ismael Zambada Garcia, alias "El Mayo" (who remains at large). Whether these achievements occurred as a result of the US operation, however, is not clear.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

GULF CARTEL / 28 JUN 2023

US policy has exposed migrants to a greater risk of being killed, disappeared, and kidnapped in isolated stretches of the…

CRIMINAL MIGRATION / 1 MAR 2023

US authorities have made several arrests that could strike a big blow to the MS13’s Mexico Program.

ELITES AND CRIME / 11 NOV 2021

The disgraced former governor of Chihuahua, César Duarte, may soon be on a flight home. A US judge approved his…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Contributes Expertise Across the Board 

22 SEP 2023

This week InSight Crime investigators Sara García and María Fernanda Ramírez led a discussion of the challenges posed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” plan within urban contexts. The…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Cited in New Colombia Drug Policy Plan

15 SEP 2023

InSight Crime’s work on emerging coca cultivation in Honduras, Guatemala, and Venezuela was cited in the Colombian government’s…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Discusses Honduran Women's Prison Investigation

8 SEP 2023

Investigators Victoria Dittmar and María Fernanda Ramírez discussed InSight Crime’s recent investigation of a massacre in Honduras’ only women’s prison in a Twitter Spaces event on…

THE ORGANIZATION

Human Trafficking Investigation Published in Leading Mexican Newspaper

1 SEP 2023

Leading Mexican media outlet El Universal featured our most recent investigation, “The Geography of Human Trafficking on the US-Mexico Border,” on the front page of its August 30…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Coverage of Ecuador Leads International Debate

25 AUG 2023

This week, Jeremy McDermott, co-director of InSight Crime, was interviewed by La Sexta, a Spanish television channel, about the situation of extreme violence and insecurity in Ecuador…