Cartel Del Noreste Cocaine Traffickers Arrested Following Pursuit

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat

Three Cartel Del Noreste cocaine smugglers were arrested after authorities set up surveillance at a local Walmart, an arrest affidavit states.

Rebeca Guzman-Rios, Ana Maria Escobar, Francisco Herrera-Moresco were arrested on the charges of possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspire to possess with intent to distribute the cocaine.

On April 17, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Guzman-Rios was coordinating a purchase, sale of approximately 22 pounds of cocaine in Laredo.

Agents set up surveillance. During surveillance, authorities observed Escobar pick up Guzman-Rios in a white Cadillac sport utility vehicle at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge.

Special agents then observed Escobar and Guzman-Rios travel to a local Walmart, where Herrera-Moresco arrived separately in a maroon Yukon. Special agents observed Herrera-Moresco transfer a bag from the Yukon to the Cadillac, states the arrest affidavit.

Escobar then got into the driver seat and Herrera-Moresco into the front passenger seat of the Cadillac before departing Walmart. Shortly after, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper tried to pull over the Cadillac for a traffic violation.

Escobar refused to stop and tossed a bag containing 10 bundles of cocaine out the window as she continued to evade. The Cadillac stopped a few blocks later. Escobar and Herrera-Moresco were arrested after a foot pursuit.

Meanwhile, Guzman-Rios was apprehended at the Walmart. All were taken to the DEA Laredo District Office. In a post-arrest interview, Escobar and Herrera-Moresco acknowledged coordinating the drug transaction with Guzman-Rios.

Escobar and Herrera-Moresco also acknowledge their participation in evading authorities and tossing the cocaine out the vehicle. Guzman admitted her participation in coordinating the drug transaction with Escobar and Herrera-Moresco.

“All three arrestees acknowledged that the drug transaction conducted was on behalf of Cartel Del Noreste (CDN),” states the affidavit.

Authorities said the 10 bundles of cocaine seized weighed 26.45 pounds. The contraband had an estimated street value of $360,000.

Laredo Mornong Times