Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Thomas W. Raffanello, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami, announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Diego Cardenas Mondol, a/k/a Camello; Jose Rubiel Sepulveda Ramirez, a/k/a El Paisa; Adolfo Leon Manrique-Gomez, a/k/a Payaso; Alvaro LNU; Osvaldo Perez, a/k/a Flaco; Jose LNU; Olga Macias; David Elias Serur; and Diego Fernando Lopez-Espinosa with conspiracy to possess, and to distribute with intent to possess, multi-kilogram quantities of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and other heroin-related offenses.

The unsealing of the indictment came with the arrests today in Cali, Colombia, of Diego Cardenas Mondol, a/k/a Camello; Jose Rubiel Sepulveda Ramirez, a/k/a El Paisa; Adolfo Leon Manrique-Gomez, a/k/a Payaso; Alvaro OrdoZez Rojas; and Diego Fernando Lopez-Espinosa . The United States is seeking their extradition to stand trial in Miami before United States District Judge Federico A. Moreno. Codefendant Olga Macias also was arrested today, in New York City.

Diego Cardenas Mondol, a/k/a Camello, is charged with four counts of possession, with intent to distribute, of heroin; one conspiracy count; and nine counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. Jose Rubiel Sepulveda Ramirez, a/k/a El Paisa, is charged with one count of conspiracy; one count of attempt to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin; and two counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. Adolfo Leon Manrique-Gomez, a/k/a Payaso, is charged with one count of conspiracy; one count of possession, with intent to distribute, of heroin; and three counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. Alvaro LNU is charged with one count of conspiracy; one count of attempt to distribute heroin; and four counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses; and Alvaro OrdoZez Rojas was arrested in connection with these charges. Osvaldo Perez, a/k/a Flaco, is charged with one count of conspiracy; one count of possession, with intent to distribute, of heroin; and six counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. Jose LNU is charged with one count of conspiracy; two counts of possession, with intent to distribute, of heroin; and 10 counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. Olga Macias is charged with one count of conspiracy; one count of attempt to distribute heroin; and two counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. David Elias Serur is charged with one count of conspiracy; one count of possession, with intent to distribute, heroin; and two counts of use of a communication facility to commit narcotics offenses. Diego Fernando Lopez-Espinosa is charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of possession, with intent to distribute, of heroin. Each defendant faces penalties of up to life in prison, the maximum sentence for all charges except the communications-facility charges, which carry a penalty of up to four years each.

The indictment supersedes previous federal charges in Miami which have resulted in the convictions earlier this year of other individuals for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. Six individuals in preceding charges pled guilty and have been sentenced in connection with transactions resulting in the seizure of more than 20 kilograms of heroin in South Florida and New York, and involving four court-authorized wiretaps.

According to information presented in court in the charges of defendants preceding the newly unsealed indictment, between February 2002 and March 2003, the Miami-based defendants distributed or attempted to distribute more than 25 kilograms of heroin. Heroin seizures included seven kilograms of heroin attempted to be smuggled off a cruise ship entering the United States at Port Everglades in June 2002; 1.5 kilograms seized from a Hollywood motel in July 2002; 1.5 kilograms of heroin seized from a room at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami in October 2002; 1 kilogram seized in New York City in October 2002; and 13 kilograms seized from a “stash” apartment in Miami-Dade County in February 2003.

Mr. Jiménez stated, “ This indictment is yet another step forward in combating the significant problem of narcotics trafficking in the United States. This effort has resulted in the seizure of multi-kilogram quantities of heroin and the prosecution of fifteen individuals for their participation in a large-scale heroin operation. We will continue to prosecute such violators vigorously, focusing especially on organizers and other major narco-trafficking targets no matter where they are."

Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Caroline Heck Miller.