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DEA Boss: Mexican Drug Cartels Are So Deeply Embedded in Chicago, We Have to Operate Like We’re ‘On the Border’

Sep. 27, 2012 8:41am Jason Howerton

DEA Agent Jack Riley: Mexican Drug Cartels Are Embedded in Chicago

Special Agent in Charge for Chicago DEA Jack Riley (Photo credit: Chicago Sun-Times)

The city may be nearly 2,000 miles from Mexico, but the country’s drug cartels are so deeply embedded in Chicago that local and federal law enforcement are forced to operate as if they are “on the border,” according to Jack Riley, special agent in charge for the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Because of Chicago’s location in the heart of the United States, its large Mexican population and its abundance of street gang activity, drug cartels have designated the city as one of its main hubs of operation in America, Riley told TheBlaze in an exclusive interview. Inevitably, the increasing presence of cartels has also contributed to the Windy City’s skyrocketing violent crime rates, the DEA boss revealed.

“My opinion is, right now, a number of the Mexican cartels are probably the most organized, well-funded, vicious criminal organizations that we’ve ever seen,” said Riley.

Right now, at least three major Mexican cartels are fighting for control of billions of dollars worth of marijuana, cocaine and heroin in Chicago. That includes the ruthless Zetas and the powerful Sinaloa cartel, run by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, arguably the most wanted man in North America, and perhaps the entire world.

However, the influence of drug cartels is seemingly overlooked repeatedly by the media when it reports on Chicago’s crime rate and rampant drug-related violence.

The city of Chicago, which Riley says has the “strongest police department” in the country, has been dealing with organized crime groups since the early 1930s, most notably the Italian mafia. But as ruthless as Al Capone and the mobs once were, Mexican drug trafficking organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel put them to shame, Riley said.

“If I pitted the Italian organized crime groups against for instance, ‘Chapo’ Guzman and the Sinaloa Cartel, it wouldn’t be a fight,” he told TheBlaze. “In my opinion, Chapo Guzman is the new Al Capone or Scarface to Chicago. His ability to corrupt, his ability to enforce his sanctions and to really do with an endless supply of revenue is in my opinion far greater than older Italian organized crime.”

Joaquin Guzman Loera, alias "El Chapo Guzman" (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Riley is well acquainted with Guzman. In fact, he posed such a threat to the Mexican drug cartels when he ran a DEA operation on the border in El Paso, the Sinaloa Cartel boss reportedly put a bounty on his head, according to WLS-TV.

The drug cartels from Mexico have found willing business partners in more than 100,000 “documented” street gang members in Chicago. The cartel operatives hide in plain sight, within the crowds of millions of hardworking Mexican citizens living in the city.

“It’s the perfect cover,” Riley said.

The drug trafficking organizations are based in Mexico but, he explained, they have operatives in various cities across the nation. In Chicago, local gangs are used by cartels as a means to get their products onto the streets without putting their operations at risk, all the while raking in massive profits from drug sales. Cartels move every drug you can think of, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamines.

Overall, police records indicate Chicago’s murder rate is up 31 percent from 2011. Further, Mayor Rahm Emanuel in August requested federal assistance to combat violence and drugs. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on Aug. 31 that at least 82 people were injured or killed in shootings within a one week period, 10 in one night alone. Additionally, as of Aug. 23, there had been 351 shooting deaths so far in 2012.

Needless to say, violence in Chicago is a big problem.

When asked how much of a role Mexican drug cartel activity plays in the out-of-control violent crime rates, Riley said that “at some point, you have to make the correlation that yeah, it does have an impact on the violent issue here in Chicago and also across the Midwest.”

Other powerful Mexican drug cartels include:

Los Zetas
Gulf Cartel
Juarez Cartel
Tijuana Cartel
Knights Templar

The Department of Justice’s National Drug Intelligence Center estimates that in “2009 and 2010, cartels operated in 1,286 U.S. cities. The center named only 50 cities in 2006,” according to a CNN report.

(Map source: The National Post)

Making Strides

Though they are extremely powerful and well-funded, Riley says the DEA, in cooperation with other local and federal law enforcement agencies are making strides in combating Mexican drug cartels in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.

“I was a boss for DEA at the Mexican border for several years prior to being brought up here, and one of the things that we’ve stressed since I’ve been up here is this: we have to operate as if we are on the border,” he told TheBlaze. “Even though we are 2,000 miles away from parts of the border, the lessons we have learned along the border with our counterparts in Mexico really have to be employed here.”

How are they implementing those lessons? Riley says the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police, Immigrations Customs and Enforcement (ICE), FBI, IRS, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Secret Service and DEA have all joined together to form a special “Strike Force” with the goal of dismantling the cartel command and control structure in the Midwest United States “from start to finish.”

“We share all our intelligence information… and we bring it all together,” he said. “It is a smart use of resources.”

By co-mingling all the various federal and local agencies, Riley said they can follow cartel operatives from Chicago all the way into Mexico or Columbia if necessary, working with America’s “counterparts” in those countries.

“We’ve got to do something more proactive and implement a new way of thinking to attack what’s going on in terms of violent crime on the streets of Chicago.”

The Zambada-Niebla Court Case

Riley went on to confirm that the Sinaloa Cartel has perhaps the strongest presence in Chicago of all the Mexican drug cartels. He said federal law enforcement agencies have been largely successful in extraditing a number high-ranking members of the cartel to the United States to stand trial, most notably, Guzman’s so-called “logistics coordinator,” Vicente Jesus Zamaba-Niebla.

Vincente Zambada-Niebla, a Mexican drug suspect awaiting trial, now claims he can't be prosecuted in the U.S. because federal agents offered him immunity in return for acting as an informant. (AP)

As previously reported exclusively at TheBlaze, Zambada-Niebla was arrested in 2009 by the Mexican Army and extradited to Chicago to face federal drug charges. During his initial court proceedings, Zambada-Niebla made a number of explosive allegations about Operation “Fast and Furious” and an alleged immunity deal between the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, the DEA and other federal agencies.

Read the entire report from TheBlaze here.

Zambada-Niebla claims that under a “divide and conquer” strategy, “the U.S. helped finance and arm the Sinaloa Cartel through Operation Fast and Furious in exchange for information that allowed the DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to take down rival drug cartels. The Sinaloa Cartel was allegedly permitted to traffic massive amounts of drugs across the U.S. border from 2004 to 2009 — during both Fast and Furious and Bush-era gunrunning operations.”

Based on the alleged agreement, “the Sinaloa Cartel under the leadership of defendant’s father, Ismael Zambada-Niebla and ‘Chapo’ Guzman, were given carte blanche to continue to smuggle tons of illicit drugs into Chicago and the rest of the United States and were also protected by the United States government from arrest and prosecution in return for providing information against rival cartels which helped Mexican and United States authorities capture or kill thousands of rival cartel members,” states a motion for discovery filed in U.S. District Court by Zambada-Niebla’s attorney in July 2011.

Chicago is the only city that Zambada-Niebla mentions specifically in the motion for discovery.

In this courtroom artist's drawing Jesus Vincente Zambada-Niebla appears before U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Verna Sadock)

When asked for the DEA’s official response to the allegations, Riley said, “It’s an ongoing investigation. He hasn’t been brought to trial, and I can’t speak to that.” However, he did say of Zambada-Niebla’s claim, “It is not DEA policy and in my own personal opinion, I just don’t think it’s accurate.”

Riley also didn’t say whether an internal investigation was launched after the DEA learned about Zambada-Niebla’s shocking allegations. “I can’t say,” he reiterated, citing again the fact that the case is part of an ongoing investigation.

“The one thing they fear the most is coming to the United States and doing time here, where they can’t buy their way out, they can’t bribe the judge,” Riley added. The statement seemingly suggests that Zambada-Niebla is attempting to swindle his way out of federal drug charges, which will likely carry a hefty prison sentence.

Zambada-Niebla’s trial, which is being closely monitored by some members of Congress, is set to begin on Oct. 9 in a Chicago federal court. In April, 2012, a federal judge refused to dismiss charges against him, ruling he failed to prove that he was an informant for the DEA and was granted immunity. It is unclear whether the alleged agreement will still be part of Zambada-Niebla’s defense in the upcoming trial.

–

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Comments (98)

lizaz
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 5:16pm
Well, join the club…..we ARE on the border!!!! Our current “administration” has allowed our national security to totally lapse on the U.S./Mexico border!!! We are waiting for the next 9/11 type attack in our country!!!

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Grand design
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 5:08pm
Chicagoland Values!

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Tickdog
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 5:05pm
so take them out! jeeze..

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katzkiner
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:55pm
The Fed is buying all our debt, it can’t. continue long. Its 99 year charter runs out this year. Anything could happen. My guess is repudiation of the debts we can not possible repay. The central government will be broke. Be prepared to take care of business locally.
Read up on the breakup of the USSR after 1989 for insight. It will be the wild, wild,west
for a decade or so. Obama won’t know where to start. Pray for Romney’s victory.

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Sheriff Joe Rocks
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:42pm
I have a very simple solution, have a team of DEA agents with 10 drug sniffing dogs walk the streets in Chicago, in the known areas for drugs. Once the dogs go off, get a warrant and search.
Simple.

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katzkiner
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:34pm
Add your comments

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- katzkiner
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:36pm
  There are many small towns in NC you will see no blacks or whites when you drive through. All Hispanic.
  
  Report this comment
65Mustang
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:20pm
Now we know why Obama, Eric Holder, Emanuel fought so hard to put guns in the hands of the Mexican cartels…they get a cut of the profits.

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shogun459
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:13pm
Put our Army on the border, if they see ANYBODY fire one warning shot.

If they don’t turn around kill them, and leave the body lay as a warning.

When you have cartels leaving Suburbans full of body parts on our streets you think they will understand anything else?

Void all environmental restrictions on law enforcement within 50 miles of our borders because the cartels are using these as free travel zones.

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blair152
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:11pm
How about enlisting the Mafia to fight the Mexicans?

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- shogun459
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:21pm
  putting gas on a fire buddy.
  
  the Joker and the mob sound familiar
  
  Really should have paid attention to the morals of modern fairy tales.
  
  Report this comment
shogun459
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:00pm
I wonder how much Obama is into them for?

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lilium479
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 3:51pm
Fast and Furious is involved in this.

First every politician that is involved in this has got to go to jail.
This cannot happen with this amount of success without government OK…Fed Or Local.

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- shogun459
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:17pm
  OH COME ON! Name one political figure that has risen to national promonance and has a Fuzzy background that nobody realy knows about! That would REALY be a stretch, oh wait a minute, isn’t Obama from Chicago?
  
  Report this comment
EricStoner
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 2:08pm
Well, the cartels have screwed themselves now. Chicago will make them look like Boy Scouts when it comes to corruption and, don’t forget, Rham has brought in the Calvary: http://dcxposed.com/2012/07/26/nation-of-islam-invited-by-rham-emanuel-to-patrol-chicago-streets-w-farakan/

As you can see, the situation is well in hand!

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Gooch7
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 1:55pm
But…but…but…that can’t be. Janet Napalitano swears that our borders have never been more secure.

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- shogun459
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:01pm
  For the CARTELS!
  
  Report this comment
- shogun459
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:05pm
  REMEMBER, the cartels are in bed with the Islamists which are in bed with OBAMA.
  
  Problem solved, I don’t see a problem, You BETTER Not see a problem either.
  
  Report this comment
YAHUSHUAHRULES
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:51pm
Supply and demand. Those drugs aren’t just coming into the United States and being dumped in a pile – tons of poison going up the noses and in the veins of Americans who have no moral compass or grounding in Biblical Judeo/Christian values. It was never like this before the bible and 10 commandments were removed from the public square. Our form of government was only suitable for a just and moral people…

Pretty much every ill can be traced to the AGENDA of dumbing down and corrupting the populace so not only do they want big government but they will not survive without cradle to grave government care. Raising a generation so dumb they can’t govern themselves, they can’t critically think, they can’t serve on juries competently and can’t vote intelligently. Useful idiots for the state – A complicit media, captured Hollywood and forcing normalization of homosexuality and all manner of perversion, war against Judeo/Christian values, pledging allegiance to the earth rather then the flag of the US and the Republic for which it stands, environmentalism a tool of totalitarianism, a corrupt, amoral, godless generation. I can not post a direct link per Blaze censors so you have to go through the Youtube extended trailer – but worth it -it is every bit as germane as 2016-Obama’s America.
AGENDA: GRINDING AMERICA DOWN. get it. watch it. share
so http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-dkKoJ3kT8
w w w h t t p://a g e n d a d o cu m e n t a r y.c o m

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Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:23pm
These guys could be shut down by legalizing the drugs and treating the dependants as victims instead of criminals. No one wants to resolve the drug issue. To many uniformed badges have a career and income at stake. The US gov. uses the drug issue as a tool to work inside many countries and gov.’s in Central and South America to control govs.

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- shogun459
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:09pm
  “Treat the dependants as victums”
  
  You would hand the left another entitlement voting block that I have to pay for.
  
  Are you SERIOUS?!?!
  
  Report this comment
NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:27am
Where is Elliott Ness when you need him?

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- KidCharlemagne
  Posted on September 28, 2012 at 4:10am
  Didn’t Ness die a long time ago?…
  
  Report this comment
Jhn'1
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:05am
When we host “sanctuary cities”, the cartels’ members can hide in a not-so-small army of government protected colonists.

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WashingtonIsMyHero
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:03am
The cartels must love the anti-gun laws in Chicago.

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bgotts27
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:58am
Maybe they could find a good community organizer to help them get Chicago operating properly.

There will be one available after the elections.

Oh, wait, I said a “good” one.

Nevermind.

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rabblechat
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:57am
I sure am glad they are closing check points, laying off agents and flying more drones down on the border. Can you imagine how bad things would be if they listened to those nut jobs that advocated physical barriers and more bodies on the border? I mean everyone knows that the only reason those right wing wackos want more fences and agents is because they are racist right?

All kidding aside, folks we are being over run. 10-15% of our population is illegal aliens . Where do you think their allegiance is? Why are these aliens allowed to operate vehicles, work and reside here? I have no problem with legal immigration but they need to go through the naturalization process to become AMERICANS. If we don’t get this under control soon our cities will look like Tijuana.
We need a military presence on our southern border. I’m not talking a couple companies of national guard I mean several divisions of active duty Marines and Soldiers. unless we establish the border as a “front” we will never gain control.
Time is running out; now is not the time for half measures…

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- katzkiner
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:33pm
  There are many small towns in the USA you will not see a white person when drive through. All Hispanic. They kill the blacks.
  
  Report this comment
Carlinpa
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:48am
RE”“We‘ve got to do something more proactive and implement a new way of thinking to attack what’s going on in terms of violent crime on the streets of Chicago.”” Hey I got an idea, ahh how about we build a BORDER!?! Then, expel ALL ILLEGALS!? I have a funny feeling that if our fed gov and sanctuary states did the job they were hired to do, we could cut this problem down by 95%

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Ted Zeppelin
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:35am
“….Mexican cartels are probably the most organized, well-funded, vicious criminal organizations that we’ve ever seen,”

I guess he hasn’t seen the Obama Re-election Machine in action.

Be good little Useful Idiot Democrats. Learn to Love the Lies of the Liberal Left.

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- LoneRanger26
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:52am
  ha, ha, ha,…love it…ha, ha, ha,…
  
  Report this comment
ApostolicIlx
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:26am
Two words. luis gutierrez Chicago Congressman. Everyone in the city knows he’s connected to the gangs. Nobody does anything about it. Gee, is it because he’s a powerful Democratic Congressman? Nah,,can’t be.

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LoneRanger26
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:26am
“and Obama, err Nero ‘fiddled’ as Rome burned…”

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:24am
If a nation’s politicians refuse to police it’s borders it can expect the rif-raf, trash, and the criminal element to invade and destroy. Shut the border down and begin deporting, arresting, and Jailing all illegals now. Make selling any narcotics illegally…a death sentence offense and kill them swiftly after their trial.

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