In a significant display of bilateral cooperation, the United States and Mexico joined forces, leading to a successful operation by the Mexico Attorney General’s Office (FGR). This enforcement action dismantled a major transnational human smuggling organization operating in Juarez, Chihuahua, right along the tense US-Mexico border.
This criminal enterprise, rooted in Juarez, strategically exploited smuggling routes near Anapra, Chihuahua and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Crucially, the organization leveraged Mexican nationals, many with current or past affiliations to various Mexico Cartels, highlighting the dangerous intersection of cartel activity and human trafficking. They are accused of illegally smuggling a staggering number of individuals, including vulnerable children, from Central America into El Paso, Texas. Adding to their depravity, the group allegedly kidnapped migrants attempting to cross into the United States, extorting their families for ransom before completing the perilous journey.
The operation culminated in the execution of arrest warrants in Mexico for alleged key figures Brian Alan Torres Gonzalez and Soledad Morales Nava. Both Mexican citizens, Torres and Morales will face prosecution in Mexico, with crucial evidence provided by the United States strengthening the case against them.
“From day one, Attorney General [X – assumed Pamela Bondi based on original text, but confirm current AG for accuracy if possible, else generalize] has directed the Department of Justice to prioritize the dismantling of cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) has been empowered to aggressively contribute to this critical fight,” stated Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This action by Mexican authorities underscores the vital role of JTFA in mobilizing the Department’s investigative and prosecutorial resources, alongside our law enforcement partners, to effectively target human smugglers and enhance transnational cooperation against these dangerous criminal networks.”
Established in 2021, JTFA has become a cornerstone of the US response to transnational crime. By pooling resources from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA intensifies enforcement efforts against the most prolific and ruthless human smuggling and trafficking organizations operating across Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, and Panama. Attorney General [X – as above] has elevated JTFA within the Department of Justice, signaling its importance and ensuring joint supervision by the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. The task force’s mandate is clear: disrupt and dismantle networks that exploit migrants, pose national security risks, and engage in organized crime, particularly those with links to Mexico cartels and similar entities.
JTFA’s comprehensive approach draws on expertise from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border and dedicated prosecutors from various Justice Department divisions, including Human Rights and Special Prosecutions, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery, and others. Significant law enforcement support comes from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other agencies. To date, JTFA’s efforts have yielded impressive results: over 350 arrests of human smuggling leaders and organizers, over 300 U.S. convictions, substantial jail sentences for over 245 defendants, and the seizure of millions of dollars in assets, real estate, vehicles, weapons, and drugs.
Crucial on-the-ground support for this operation was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) El Paso, working closely with the U.S. Border Patrol. ICE HSI-Mexico City played a vital role in facilitating coordination between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies. The Justice Department, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas in El Paso, HRSP, and the Office of the Judicial Attaché in Mexico City, provided essential assistance throughout this complex international operation, demonstrating a united front against the dangerous nexus of Mexico cartels and human smuggling.
