Omar Cuenca-Marino, 41, from Guerrero, Mexico, has been extradited to Georgia to face federal charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering. Cuenca-Marino appeared before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard in Atlanta. He is accused of leading the Los Rojos Mexican Drug Cartel and was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 21, 2016.
"Robust law enforcement partnerships, tenacious investigators, and a resilient determination to eliminate cartels that import deadly drugs into our communities culminated in the charges and recent extradition of this alleged drug cartel leader," said Acting United States Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. "This prosecution sends a strong message to the cartels and their leadership, no matter where they reside: you will face justice."
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, highlighted the significance of Cuenca-Marino's arrest: "The arrest and extradition of Omar Cuenca-Marino, the alleged Los Rojos cartel leader, marks a significant success for the ongoing U.S. efforts to dismantle drug trafficking cartels and secure our borders."
Jae W. Chung from the DEA Atlanta Division commented on the investigation's success: "The success of this investigation demonstrates DEA will use all of its resources to destroy drug distribution networks that are endangering our communities."
Demetrius Hardeman from IRS Criminal Investigation emphasized the role of financial investigations: "Drug cartels have caused the death of many people in the United States and Mexico through violence and the distribution of illegal drugs."
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, between 2013 and 2016, a Mexican-based drug cartel imported large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. Cuenca-Marino allegedly led this operation by organizing drug smuggling using buses and tractor-trailers while directing millions in drug proceeds back to Mexico.
Notable seizures include operations in Vinings and Hiram, Georgia in October 2013 which resulted in capturing approximately 75 kilograms of methamphetamine among other drugs; another seizure involved 76 packages of cocaine in Duluth, Georgia in November 2015; lastly $425,900 was found during a stop on Interstate 44 in Missouri.
Authorities remind that an indictment contains only charges; it is up to the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The case is managed by various agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), with support from local police departments across Georgia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Herskowitz is handling prosecution efforts alongside contributions from former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Hartigan and Michael J. Brown as well as international cooperation coordinated by DOJ's Office of International Affairs.
This prosecution aligns with Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiatives targeting major criminal organizations within multi-agency frameworks like David G Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force focusing on transnational organized crime syndicates across Georgia.
For more information contact U.S Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or call (404) 581-6280; visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga for additional details.