DRUG KINGPIN JUAN JOSE ESPARRAGOZA-MORENO INDICTED
REWARD ANNOUNCED

The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today that a federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas, El Paso, Texas, has indicted Mexican drug kingpin Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno, aka "El Azul," on drug trafficking charges. In addition, the FBI announced the initiation of a public awareness program seeking information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Esparragoza-Moreno. The FBI, in coordination with law enforcement partners in the Republic of Mexico, are launching this program to solicit information that will lead to the apprehension of Esparragoza-Moreno and his confederates.

Since 1993, multiple reports have indicated that Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno has significant control over the drug trade in Mexico and has expanded operations with new Columbian suppliers and new drug smuggling routes through Mexico, the United States and Europe. Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno is considered one of the most powerful individuals involved in the Mexican drug trade and is often called the "godfather" of the modern drug traffickers operating in Mexico. His organization is alleged to smuggle multi-ton quantities of marijuana and cocaine into the United States using airplanes, maritime vessels, trains, tractor trailers, personal vehicles and underground tunnels. In June 2003, Esparragoza-Moreno was placed on the White House Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation List by President George W. Bush.

Esparragoza-Moreno and his associates were indicted on drug trafficking charges as a result of an FBI-led Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation code named "Operation Ghost Rider." The indictment alleges that Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno is responsible for the importation of over fourteen tons of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code (USC), Section 963 - Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance; Title 21, USC, Section 846, onspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; and Title 21, USC, Section 952(A) - Importation of a Controlled Substance.

"Operation Ghost Rider" directly resulted in the seizure of over 28,000 pounds of marijuana; almost 200 kilograms of cocaine; 1,000 pills of Ecstasy; drug proceeds totaling over $813,000 United States Currency; and $2,468,500 in counterfeit $100 bills. Along with the indictment of Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno, twenty-four (24) other subjects have been federally indicted. In addition, associated drug trafficking cells were identified and targeted in Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; Lexington, Kentucky; Newark, New Jersey; and San Diego, California. Investigations were also initiated internationally in Mexico and Spain.

"Operation Ghost Rider" was initiated in July 2002 and received investigative assistance from the United States Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security-Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security-Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Esparragoza-Moreno is described as a White (Hispanic) male, 5'8", 200 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, and is believed to have had plastic surgery. He was born on February 3, 1949, in Chuicopa, Sinaloa, Mexico, and is a Mexican citizen. He is also wanted by the Mexico Attorney General's Office (Procuraduria General de la Republica - PGR) for narcotics-related violations of Mexican law.

The centerpiece of the FBI public awareness program will feature a reward of up to $5 million (U.S. Currency) for information leading to Esparragoza-Moreno's arrest and/or conviction. This reward is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, under its Narcotics Rewards Program. The public awareness program will also include newspaper and billboard advertisements, and the dissemination of wanted flyers, in both Mexico and along the southwest U.S./Mexico border.

In addition, the FBI office in El Paso and the PGR in Mexico City have established toll-free telephone tip lines (1-866-EL-AZUL-5 {1-866-352-9855} in the U.S.; 01-800-9000-234 or
01-800-0025-200 in Mexico) in support of this effort to locate and arrest Esparragoza-Moreno.

Additional information regarding Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno, including his wanted poster, is available on the FBI's Internet Home Page at http://www.fbi.gov, and at http://www.state.gov.

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