Major pot-smuggling ring busted
By Darren Meritz / El Paso Times
Posted: 05/23/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

EL PASO -- Eight alleged members of a major drug-trafficking organization -- suspected of distributing 25,000 pounds of marijuana a year throughout the United States -- were arrested Friday in El Paso.

An investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration's El Paso division found that the group, which federal officials called the Eckenroth drug-trafficking organization, was involved in a sophisticated trafficking scheme to warehouse thousands of pounds of marijuana at commercial and residential properties throughout the El Paso area in 2007 and 2008.

The marijuana would then be distributed to locations throughout the United States before proceeds from drug sales were laundered and hidden from the IRS, said DEA officials.

"It was a major organization, and I think one of the focuses for us was the money-laundering charges and the tax-evasion charges," said Matthew Taylor, a spokesman for the DEA.

Agents arrested Rodrigo Rodney Eckenroth, Luis Rivera, Jeorge Rivera, Josefina Ornelas-Murguia, Liliana Ornelas-Rodriguez, Mario Alberto Muñoz Jr., Uriel Herrera-Gallegos and Joel Osvaldo Ramirez-Numez. Federal agents think all the defendants are from El Paso.

They appeared before Federal Magistrate Judge Michael McDonald on Friday. Six of the eight defendants are scheduled for arraignment at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the federal courthouse.

The investigation, which included assistance from the El Paso Police Department and the IRS criminal investigation unit, led to the seizure of several bank accounts, which were allegedly used to hide assets and launder drug proceeds.

Also seized were 24 vehicles, three homes, two commercial properties, several tons of marijuana and $334,000, DEA officials said.

On April 22, a federal grand jury returned a 17-count indictment charging the defendants with numerous drug-trafficking and money-laundering violations. Eckenroth also was indicted on charges of attempting to evade and defeat taxes.

Friday's arrests came after a previous bust, in which six other alleged Eckenroth drug trafficking organization members were taken into custody. Their identities were not available Friday. DEA officials expect more arrests stemming from the investigation.

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Once the cartels and the gangs are removed from the marijuana culture, it will be smooth sailing for legitimate growers and sellers. The government should bring back the Marijuana Tax Stamp and print them like they do dollar bills!!! They should be made available to who ever wants one. Nothing is really free, and the government shouldn't demand an outrageous fee to grow, or sell. You don't need a stamp to drink alcohol and its a far more dangerous drug.

Because the government is needy, doesn't mean it should get greedy.

I like where they're more concerned about the tax evasion.lol
C/P
"It was a major organization, and I think one of the focuses for us was the money-laundering charges and the tax-evasion charges," said Matthew Taylor, a spokesman for the DEA.

Legalizie it and they can get there tax money.

Co-sign to that.

I recall this case just a few weeks ago and it was a much further reaching bust then just El Paso. They arrested several hundred people all told in multiple cities and multiple countries. They went hard and heavy after one of the Mexican cartels which of course had operations all over the south, not just in Mexico. They arrested hundreds of people in Houston, El Paso, Dallas and other places all of whom were connected to the cartel in one way or another.

One more reason to grow your own, if you ask me.

wow the pigs finally doing something!

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And another 40 pop up overnight.....Los Zetas runs texas.....not the Police. Anyone mildly involved in the drug world here in Tejas knows the name Los Zetas.....ruthless and efficent. Kill judges, kill kids, filet alive....it's whatever.

Los Zetas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."

H.L. Mencken

^ good link. very interesting, I am reading it all right now.

the first paragraph has this.

"The group was founded by former Mexican Army elite soldiers and is now formed by ex-federal, state, and local police officers, as well as ex-Kaibiles from Guatemala, bringing a total force of over 4000 men."

damn, sounds like its Mexico's army and police against ours. it really is war.

we really need to end cannabis prohibition in the US now.

La Eme and the Surenos both pay dues to the Zetas to sell Dope in the major Texas cities. Except in Austin and thats run by the Texas Syndicate.

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."

H.L. Mencken

Los Zetas competes with the Sinaloa Cartel down here...

Sinaloa Cartel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There is an entire music genre in Texas that pays homage to the Cartels and their deeds.

Narcocorrido - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can listen hear, for spanish speakers

YouTube - LARRY HERNANDEZ MIXx DE NARCO CORRIDOS 2009!!

Popular part of Texican culture...

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."

H.L. Mencken

^ more good reasons to grow your own, hu? the scary thing is when you think about it is who would be the most ruthless in keeping cannabis prohibition laws on the books. maybe this is why they still exist. I wouldn't want to be the congressman who finally ended cannabis prohibition and put all these guys out of business.