Anti-crime effort in Puerto Rico is paying off, officials say
SAN JUAN |
(Reuters) - An anti-crime initiative that put more federal agents in Puerto Rico and boosted coordination with the U.S. mainland is making streets safer in both places, top U.S. and Puerto Rican law enforcement officials said on Thursday.
The effort, Operation Caribbean Resilience, began in July 2012 and has been expanded over the last three months in the U.S. territory.
Over the last 12 months, the operation has resulted in the arrest of more than 320 people and the seizure of more than 170 firearms, 8,000 rounds of ammunition, more than $155,000 in cash, and a wide range of drugs including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, Percocet, and oxycodone.
"Through our joint efforts ... we have not only made the streets of Puerto Rico much safer, but also improved security in the mainland United States," said John Sandweg, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sandweg said the operation was entering a new phase targeting drug gangs and criminal organizations responsible for violent crime in Puerto Rico.
The island's non-voting member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, hailed the operation as a success.
"Now, it is critical that we sustain and build upon the gains we have made," said Pierluisi.
The federal government is primarily responsible for securing Puerto Rico's maritime border, and plays a key role in disrupting criminal activity on the Caribbean island, he said.
Puerto Rico had a record 1,117 killings during 2011. The tally dropped to 978 killings in 2012, according to the Puerto Rico Police Department. So far this year, 648 killings were registered through September 25, compared with 719 during the same period last year.
The crime problem, along with a seven-year economic slide, is driving many Puerto Ricans to the continental United States. More Puerto Ricans live stateside than on the island.
Puerto Rico's population has been on the decline for the past several years, with U.S. Census Bureau estimating it at 3.68 million in 2012, down from 3.81 million in 2000.
The operation is a joint initiative led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit, with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Puerto Rico Police Department and the municipal police departments of San Juan, Ponce, and Toa Alta.
Some 30 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents were assigned to high-crime areas with links to transnational crime. The Coast Guard boosted patrols of smuggling routes around Puerto Rico. Transportation Security Administration officials increased screening efforts to intercept drugs and weapons smuggled in baggage and cargo at airports and seaports.
(Reporting by Reuters in San Juan, Editing by Jane Sutton and Mohammad Zargham)
26 SEPTEMBER 2013 - 21H38
US authorities said they have arrested some 320 people in Puerto Rico, seizing more than 170 firearms and some 8,000 rounds of ammunition as they cracked down on a surge in crime.
US authorities said they have arrested some 320 people in Puerto Rico, seizing more than 170 firearms and some 8,000 rounds of ammunition as they cracked down on a surge in crime.
AFP - US authorities said Thursday they have arrested some 320 people in Puerto Rico, seizing more than 170 firearms and some 8,000 rounds of ammunition as they cracked down on a surge in crime.
US and local officials more than a year ago launched Operation Caribbean Resilience, a massive crackdown on violent crime, including homicides, that have rocked the US territory.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that in addition to the arrests and the seizure of weapons, the operation has resulted in the confiscation of a range of illegal narcotics including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, Percocet and Oxycodone.
The effort has focused largely on disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations, said John Sandweg, acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), which carried out the operation with help from other federal agencies.
"No one entity can tackle transnational criminal enterprises alone ? it requires a layered, multi-agency approach," Sandweg said in a statement.
"Through our joint efforts, under Operation Caribbean Resilience, we have not only made the streets of Puerto Rico much safer, but also improved security in the mainland United States," said Sandweg.
He said DHS agents worked alongside personnel from Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration and the US Coast Guard, as well as local law enforcement officials in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico in recent years has seen a sharp surge in street crime, which authorities believe is tried to turf battles between drug trafficking gangs.
The island is a key transit point for drug traffickers seeking to ship contraband to the US mainland.
» US arrests hundreds, seizes weapons in Puerto Rico crackdown - FRANCE 24
26/09/13 16:59 from puerto rico - Google News
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» US officials turn focus of smuggling crackdown to high-level drug traffickers in Puerto Rico
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In this June 6, 2012 file photo, federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration escort a handcuffed drug smuggling suspect, at the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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US and local officials more than a year ago launched Operation Caribbean Resilience, a massive crackdown on violent crime, including homicides, that have rocked the US territory.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that in addition to the arrests and the seizure of weapons, the operation has resulted in the confiscation of a range of illegal narcotics including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, Percocet and Oxycodone.
The effort has focused largely on disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations, said John Sandweg, acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), which carried out the operation with help from other federal agencies.
"No one entity can tackle transnational criminal enterprises alone ? it requires a layered, multi-agency approach," Sandweg said in a statement.
"Through our joint efforts, under Operation Caribbean Resilience, we have not only made the streets of Puerto Rico much safer, but also improved security in the mainland United States," said Sandweg.
He said DHS agents worked alongside personnel from Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration and the US Coast Guard, as well as local law enforcement officials in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico in recent years has seen a sharp surge in street crime, which authorities believe is tried to turf battles between drug trafficking gangs.
The island is a key transit point for drug traffickers seeking to ship contraband to the US mainland.
» US arrests hundreds, seizes weapons in Puerto Rico crackdown - FRANCE 24
26/09/13 16:59 from puerto rico - Google News
FRANCE 24US arrests hundreds, seizes weapons in Puerto Rico crackdownFRANCE 24US authorities said they have arrested some 320 people in Puerto Rico, seizing more than 170 firearms and some 8,000 rounds of ammunition as they cracked down ...
» US to target high-level criminals in Puerto Rico
26/09/13 12:16 from Puerto Rico Newswire
Federal agents will start targeting high-level drug traffickers in Puerto Rico with intelligence gathered during a three-month blitz on criminal activity in the U.S. territory, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday.
» US officials turn focus of smuggling crackdown to high-level drug traffickers in Puerto Rico
26/09/13 11:16 from Puerto Rico Newswire
In this June 6, 2012 file photo, federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration escort a handcuffed drug smuggling suspect, at the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
» US to Target High-Level Criminals in Puerto Rico - ABC News
26/09/13 10:16 from puerto rico - Google News
US to Target High-Level Criminals in Puerto RicoABC NewsFederal agents will start targeting high-level drug traffickers in Puerto Rico with intelligence gathered during a three-month blitz on criminal activity in the U.S. territory, the ...
» US to target high-level criminals in Puerto Rico - WRAL.com
26/09/13 10:32 from political status of puerto rico - Google News
US to target high-level criminals in Puerto RicoWRAL.comSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Federal agents say they will turn to targeting high-level drug traffickers in Puerto Rico with intelligence gained in a three-month blitz on criminal activit...
» Pierluisi Responds to DHS Announcement Regarding Major Law Enforcement Operation in Puerto Rico
26/09/13 11:52 from Res. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi - Representing the At Large District of PUERTO RICO
Washington, DC—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi released the following statement in response to this morning’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the results of the major law enforcement o...
» Operación contra el narcotráfico en Puerto Rico
26/09/13 14:30 from Metro - Últimas noticias
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Los agentes federales se concentrarán en los narcotraficantes de alto...
» Investigan si narcotráfico guarda relación con asesinato en Fajardo
26/09/13 13:26 from Primera Hora : Noticias
Como resultado murió un hombre de 39 años quien tenía récord delictivo tras se fichado por robo en el 2008.
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___________________________________
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» Anti-crime effort in Puerto Rico is paying off, officials say
26/09/13 16:18 from Puerto Rico
Thomson Reuters SAN JUAN (Reuters) - An anti-crime initiative that put more federal agents in Puerto Rico and boosted coordination with the U.S. mainland is making streets safer in...
» Se reúne Pierluisi con el vicepresidente de EE.UU.
26/09/13 16:03 from El Nuevo Día : Política
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» Venezuela's President Maduro Says 'Plot' Against Government Forced Him To ... - Fox News Latino
26/09/13 12:32 from puerto rico politics - Google News
Venezuela's President Maduro Says 'Plot' Against Government Forced Him To ...Fox News LatinoMaduro needed the clearance to fly over Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth. Washington has been without an ambassador in Venezuela sinc...