Government

Update: Congressmen Are Now Demanding Answers About ‘Operation Castaway’

We at the Blaze told you on Monday about reports that a joint ATF-ICE gunrunning program similar to “Operation Fast and Furious” existed in Tampa, Florida called “Operation Castaway.” The methods were apparently the same- ATF agents allowed straw buyers to purchase weapons knowing that they would end up in the hands of criminals across international borders. Only in “Castaway,” the weapons supposedly found their way to the notoriously violent MS-13 gang instead of Mexican cartels.

Update: Congressmen Are Now Demanding Answers About Operation Castaway

ICE Director Morton

Now three Congressmen- led by Rep. Bilirakis of Tampa, Florida- have sent a letter to the John Morton, Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), demanding answers on “Castaway.”  Here is the text of the letter:

July 12, 2011

The Honorable John Morton
Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
500 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20536

Dear Director Morton:

We are concerned about recent reports that suggest similarities between “Operation Castaway,” a firearms trafficking investigation led by the Tampa Field Offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and “Operation Fast and Furious,” an ATF program that provided firearms to Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Specifically, reports indicate that firearms under “Operation Castaway” may have been provided to dangerous criminal gangs in Honduras, including MS-13.

If true, these reports raise serious questions about the leadership of the ICE and ATF Tampa Field Offices. We support ICE’s efforts to disrupt criminal syndicates that traffic in firearms, drugs, and other illicit substances. However, when those efforts serve to fuel the operations of criminal enterprises through the provision of firearms, they must be stopped and those responsible must be held accountable. In an effort to address this issue, we would appreciate your response to the following questions.

1. What role did ICE agents and leadership play in “Operation Castaway?”

2. Can you confirm whether “Operation Castaway” included a gun walking scheme that allowed weapons to be trafficked to Honduras? If so, have any of these firearms ended up in the possession of the notorious MS-13 gang?

3. How many guns have been allowed to pass into Honduras and how many have since been accounted for?

4. Were these weapons subject to any special monitoring processes once they left the United States?

5. Is “Operation Castaway” still ongoing? If so, are you, in coordination with the ATF, planning to terminate the program?

We find it extremely troubling that the United States government would willfully allow weapons to be acquired by dangerous criminal and drug trafficking organizations, in direct contravention of our strategic and national interests. We look forward to receiving your responses to these questions in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Representative, Florida, 9th District

Michael McCaul, U.S. Representative, Texas, 10th District

Candice Miller, U.S. Representative, Michigan, 10th District

The Justice Department claims “Castaway” was an ATF-led operation that was highly successful and unrelated to “Operation Fast and Furious.” But depending on the answers to the questions above, it looks like the Obama administration could be on the verge of handling an entirely new front in the growing international scandal of Project Gunrunner and its spin-offs.

Comments (89)

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  • ginpa
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:42am

    Congressmen Are Now Demanding Answers!!!! Come on with F and S Barry and Holder should have been put in jail by now. NOW we will get to the bottom of these indefenceable actions. I have a bridge for sale CHEAP!! Any Congressmen takers?

    Report Post »  
    • UlyssesP
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:59am

      Watch this.
      Holder gets credit for implementing Op. Gunrunner on video from c-span IN 2009.
      http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MexicoBor&start=800

      Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • John 3:16
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:24am

      I have received emails from Obama at the white house. He said shut the He*l up and for us to eat our Peas…TEA!

      Report Post » John 3:16  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:58am

      Run a gun or two my way. I need them to control the elephants in my garden.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • VegasGuy
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:50pm

      @ULYSSES

      I watched the video. If you do not have time for the entire video move the slider to the 17:00 minute mark. Most interesting is Project Gun Runner is being announced from the White House podium on March 24, 2009. Obama’s team did not waste any time in getting guns into the hands of drug cartels.

      Watch the beginning of this video. Janet Napolitano and Robert Gibbs are standing off to the side while Project Gun Runner details are being given.

      http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MexicoBor/start/14/stop/2702

      Report Post » VegasGuy  
    • vg0va3
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:50pm

      WOW!!

      If that isn’t a smoking gun, I don’t know what is?

      I thought this would be a smoking gun too:

      “Last week, our administration launched a major new effort to break the backs of the cartels. My department is committing 100 new ATF personnel to the Southwest border in the next 100 days to supplement our ongoing Project Gunrunner, DEA is adding 16 new positions on the border, as well as mobile enforcement teams, and the FBI is creating a new intelligence group focusing on kidnapping and extortion. DHS is making similar commitments, as Secretary Napolitano will detail.”

      http://www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090402.html

      Impeach Holder!

      Report Post »  
    • Marci
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 2:23pm

      We can’t let this go away by focusing on stupid things—like the partisan fight over the debt ceiling. This is criminal and threatens our freedoms by intention. This goes all the way to Obama, and needs to be handled. This man has decided that the Constititution does not apply to him (Libya) and that technicalities are the only thing he needs to justify his actions. He and his moonbat cronies are openly against the 2nd amendment, and this is clearly an assault on the second amendment. Did anyone read the story about his executive order banning more weapons during this entire thing? That takes some brass ones to do that during this scandal—-it says he is very confident that he will NEVER be held accountable. We need to ensure he loses that confidence, and then his usurped position as the Commander In Chief. What will it take for those on the left to wake up and realize that first, this assault on freedoms includes yours, and second, that there is ONLY ONE REASON the government wants to disarm you, and it is NOT for your protection.

      Report Post » Marci  
  • theye
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:19am

    And who pays for all of this? We see whats going on.

    Report Post » theye  
  • OleTom
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:18am

    Let‘s email all the Conservative senators and ask them what’s up
    http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

    Here is the Reps click on name and it will take you to their website where their contact form is
    http://www.house.gov/representatives/

    and tweet all the news stations here is a list of twitter addresses
    http://our-motivation.co.cc/Utube/tweets.php

    Report Post » OleTom  
  • bets
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:16am

    Just another way for progressive communists to wreck the Constitution of the United States and rid themselves of the threat of the American people taking up arms and arresting them or throwing them out. Think about it the government has been saying that Americans have been arming drug runners and gangs across the border that it is our fault. This if it had not come to light would have been the ideal excuse for the government to remove our God given born with right to protect our selves.

    Report Post »  
    • Kathleen
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 5:06pm

      Exactly. It was as though the Govt did this on purpose so then to use it as an excuse to ban guns. The same thing with the oil spill. Govt didn’t do anything about it for the longest time to then be able to say, see drilling for oil is bad.

      This Government is evil.

      Report Post »  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:14am

    What else is being sold across our borders that we don’t know about? Watch the other hand….This government is the worse of the worse, can’t trust them at all.

    Report Post » Darla_K  
  • quicker
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:09am

    I wonder if we got a look at Obamas feet would they be cloven.

    Report Post » quicker  
    • nysparkie
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:58am

      LMAO.. And a spiked tail under his pants!

      Report Post » nysparkie  
    • MontanaRob
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:52am

      And he has horns, they are curled back and make his ears stick out. And didn’t you ever notice the forked tongue?

      Report Post » MontanaRob  
    • getalong
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 2:36pm

      In this same vein of thought, have you ever noticed the purple coloration around Obama’s mouth. When he speaks lies, it gets even more purple. Evil is as evil does.

      Report Post »  
  • Dakotagal
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:59am

    Just the latest offense from this administration, which is intent on taking over every area of American life. Thank God for Glenn Beck for opening so many eyes and now others are beginning to scream as well. I knew we were in very serious trouble when Holder refused to prosecute those Black Panthers who menaced voters in Philadelphia last Presidential election. I saw it on Fox TV the day it happened and had been waiting for action. Right .. no action from Holder because it was black on white crime and he has told Justice he isn’t interested in prosecuting those kinds of crimes. The Obama regime is using this time in office to punish white people. In fact college students in NC actually used those words when they registered to vote for Obama “Watch out whitey, it’s time for payback!” And it seems it was all too true. Some thought that Obama’s election would bring us all together, but the reality is the division in the country now is quite scary.

    Report Post » Dakotagal  
  • nysparkie
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:58am

    This Administration is showing more and more of its ideology with concerns towards our Constitution. They wish to de-bone the 2nd Amendment. They need numbers of illegal guns showing up in the hands of criminals and at crime scenes. So what do they do…..Give them all guns. Cook the books. Show what is in reality Bogus numbers caused by them so the general public starts a unprecedented outcry for O’Bambam to do something. Criminals and Terrorists are in the White House and all over his administration. They are causing the deaths of Americans and Nationals in Border areas by their actions – they are TERRORISTS! IMPEACHMENT – NO !!! CRIMINAL CHARGES and MILITARY TRIBUNALS !! I say put them in GUANTANAMO and let the ISLAMIST there have at em!! Where in the HE LL is the Mainstream Press. They should be all over this like white on rice. Bunch of lackeys. They all appear to be doing O‘Bambam’s bidding. He must have a Charles Manson stare that has em all hypnotized. Cretins. Holder is so much a criminal. This guy needs to be locked up for decades. Someone do something for crying out loud.!!!!!

    Report Post » nysparkie  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:05am

      beware the government media complex.

      Report Post »  
    • Cocheta
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:28am

      NYSPARKIE,

      “The Fourth Estate” aka “Main Stream Media” is a dilapidated outhouse full of fetid excrement. If this country folds and the light of freedom flickers out, her blood will be on the media’s hands for turning their backs on the sacred mission given to them: Truthfully, without bias, report the facts about what our government is doing. Let the citizens decide how best to use that information.

      http://www.vince4potus.org/ – An Alternative to Destructive Professional Politicians

      Report Post » Cocheta  
  • dickpen
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:55am

    Wouldn’t it be interesting if some of these weapons made their way back to Washington DC at the Justice Department and Whitehouse?

    Report Post »  
    • Zeb
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:10pm

      If I recall the numbers correctly there were hundreds of 50 Berrets included in the walking guns.

      With ranges and accuracy of this sniper rifle, they should consider giving up the golf game for the POTUS the SS can not protect him in this environ against this arm. Could this be there plan to hold this POTUS Left aligned an in step with their unconstitutional over through of our government after they (the ******* left) fiscally destroy it.
      For those that do not have a clue watch here.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2P70K4c94
      IS THIS HOW YOU PROTECT YOUR POTUS ?

      Report Post » Zeb  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:42am

    this is all about our 2nd amendment and disarming legal gun owners. this has been a wet dream for libs and progressives for years and years. i hope congress has the stomach to see this through all the way to the top. we want Holder but we want his Chief Obama also. Obama is behind this “ we are working on the gun issue under the radar”. thats all the proff i need.

    Report Post »  
    • psst
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:21am

      Clouds said:” I hope congress has the stomach to see this through all the way to the top. we want Holder but we want his Chief Obama also”
      —
      Umm! Congress IS Irrelevant..Most republican congress-critters are scared of their shadows.
      The Senate is still under the control of Dingy.
      Dingy,Chuckie (I’ll take yer guns away) Shoe Dickie Turban and the rest of the dems in the House and Senate all think alike.They would like nothing better than gun confiscation. From normal citizens. Not the criminal element. The dem party is really the marxist party.
      Communism can only be completed when the law abiding citizenry are disarmed
      Thid Scheme was designed to chaos. Then the marxist can step in and say the only way to stop all these killings will be to disarm the total populace.
      IOW. Creating an excuse for confiscation. They become the good guys, looking out for the interest of the citizenry. Bringing peace to the streets. The country is full of foolish lemmings who would believe this crapola. Right up until they are thrown in gulags.
      Marxist don’t care about guns in criminal hands. Criminals will be happy when gun are confiscated from law abiding citizens.Security Baby. For them.
      Also, criminals couldn’t care less if marxists takes over.For them, it will be like working for relatives..

      Report Post »  
  • endgamer
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:34am

    Our government is in the drug trafficking business using the war on drugs as cover..They make money hand over fist, and fleece the taxpayer to boot..

    Report Post » endgamer  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:02am

      this does make you wonder JUST HOW CORRUPT OUR GOVERNMENT IS.

      Report Post »  
  • Mateytwo Barreett
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:31am

    The prezidunce is just doing what he said he would do. Double exports! And if it just so happens that he gets his way with gun control. I mean really, with all this going on, now is not a time for worrying about that pesky debt ceiling. Besides Timmy and Benji are on that.

    Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:23am

    .
    Dear, Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Representative, Florida, 9th District

    Michael McCaul, U.S. Representative, Texas, 10th District

    Candice Miller, U.S. Representative, Michigan, 10th District

    OBAMA MADE US DO IT………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:14am

    Come on, Congressmen and women, WE THE PEOPLE are counting on you. You are are voices, for now, but if you can’t do the work required of you to save this nation, WE CAN and WE WILL!

    Stand strong, Congresspeople~~~~ turn from your wicked ways (GOD’s words, not mine), seek HIS face, humble yourselves (not something you guys have been good at for a while and a good characteristic for a servant to have, by the way) and HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND.

    Stand up the the illegal alien occupying OUR HOUSE, the White House, and all who control him. Call them in and make them accountable under our laws and under our constitution. Jail the so and so’s, cut off their pensions, etc. And, let’s clean house. Now.

    Proud of you Congressmen who are standing up. Do more NOW. Earn your “vacations” for the first time in far too many years!

    Report Post »  
  • HowardSternIsABigot
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:06am

    Imagine that, Obama the handpuppet of foreigners is acting to disarm Americans by arming MS13 and Mexican headloppers. This is terrorism by the USA. This is treason, as if the New World Order isnt treason. It is time folks, either THE rule of LAW must be restored or it will be violent. And lets not forget the antiamerican nature of PC speech codes, affirmative action, and hate crimes. All tools of evil.

    Report Post »  
    • cessna152
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:12am

      Instant “crisis” Just add Holder, Obama and Soros… government officials sold/bought separately,paid with your taxes and freedom, licensed by corrupt governments everywhere…

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • chazman
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:20am

      We’re gonna have to get Holder out before any investigation will be sucessful … then we can hang OBAMMY.

      Report Post »  
  • One Man One Voice
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:01am

    As the congressman said, this was a direct and systematic attempt by this administration to intentionally create a crisis and then use their power and influence, via their capitulating lackys in the media, to influence public opinion enough to enact illegal gun control laws.

    Report Post »  
  • quicker
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:01am

    They did this just to make a end run around the 2 amendment.

    Report Post » quicker  
  • streetrodder
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:00am

    Obozo has to answere for this. Your fired Barry!

    Report Post »  
  • DragonflyJune
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:57am

    It is good to see that this is being investigated. It is appalling that weapons are leaving this country and being put into the hands of people who would do harm to this country. The president should have never allowed this type of criminal operation to be carried out. The president and all others involved should be held responsible for their actions. In a perfect world, right?

    Report Post » DragonflyJune  
  • clingingtogodandguns
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:56am

    Eric Holder and the whole Obummer Regine are responsible for this, you can’t have this kind of actions going on and the prez and holder not know anything.This bs and fast and furious was to make a way to take our gun rights away.Close the f ing border and wipe the middle east off the map.If we are attacked again hopefully it will be the white house.

    Report Post »  
  • Ironmaan
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:53am

    The government is completely out of control. They will allow guns to be purchased by criminals and allowed to cross the border, but they have a problem with incandescent lightbulbs. They are arrogant fools, trying to control every aspect of our lives.
    http://guerillatics.com

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:51am

    It’s only a mistake.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • HKS
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:50am

    I’m sure the tracks are going to lead back to one person in Washington. Guess who?

    Report Post » HKS  
  • JC Hedj
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:50am

    Another case of the US Government supplying our enemies with firearms. That is aiding and abetting the enemy and that my friends is “ TREASON”

    A hanging offense….Impeach OBAMA today and arrest Eric holder

    IT IS TIME TO OVERTHROW this corrupt Communist infested government.

    Burn Frankensteins monster out of the castle. Screw the elections, they’r erigged against us….

    Report Post »  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:11am

      As a descendent of one of the signers of the DOI, I’am especially disgusted with anti-American Obama, Holder, 95% of the Dems and about half of the Repubs. There’s no doubt Obama is a committed Marxist or worse, holds hatred towards whites, and wants to destroy the US as we know it. It has already changed dramatically from ‘as we knew it’, but will be totally gone if this hateful SOB gets re-elected. As to the racist Holder? I despise him as much as Obama.
      Look at all the Marxists/Communists around Obama. Look at the congressional black caucus and their trip to Cuber to fall at Castro’s feet with praise. They are traitors for that, as well as being in a group that advocates for a particular ethnic group. Yet, you never hear anyone say they are racist for that, do you?
      Vote these people back into power at your pearl, but don’t come to me for protection when TSHTF.

      Report Post »  
  • beerios
    Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:49am

    Whoever gave the OK, no matter what level of the government, should be brought up on charges. If the President has had a hand in this, he needs to not only be impeached, but held criminally to account.

    Report Post » beerios  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:04am

      Obama conveniently distant himself from these incidents by demanding “limited gun control”

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • beerios
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:31am

      I’m not sure thats gonna help him this time.

      Report Post » beerios  
    • robert
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:14am

      beerios
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:31am
      “I’m not sure thats gonna help him this time.”

      I hope you’re right, but it’s EXTREMELY difficult to find a smoking gun in the hands of anybody who is president. From what I can gather, Obama assured the anti-gun crowd that he was “doing something” to curtail gun rights. Obviously, he had this exposed illegal operation in mind. Such an underhanded, conniving thing to do in the pursuit of an agenda. This character puts on a likeable front, but every day that passes reveals him to be no more than a twisted ideologue who has a perverted agenda. If I were religious, he would be my pick for the anti-Christ.

      Holder is corrupt to the core, and reveals his biases and anti-white hatred and pro-black agenda when he’s pressured or angered. I’m ABSOLUTELY convinced both Holder and the community organizer want to ban guns for the purpose of neutralizing what they see as a white threat to their police state pursuits.

      There are two things these miscreants want above all else (But not restricted to just two): They want a shift of wealth from the white middle class to the black population any way they can get it, whether it’s via a “green agenda” or otherwise; and they want to disarm the entire country, while a “civilian defense corps” is instituted to act as enforcers and informants. Acorn, the black street gangs and the Black Muslims, are all potental inductees.

      This country elected a liar and a criminaL.

      Report Post »  
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