According to the Federal Attorney General's (Procuraduria General de la Republica, PGR) Website, the mandate of the Deputy Attorney General's Office for Special Investigation into Organized Crime (Subprocuraduria de Investigacion Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada, SIEDO) is to investigate and prosecute offences committed by members of organized crime (Mexico 25 July 2003a). In addition, the Website lists Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos as the Deputy Attorney General for Special Investigation into Organized Crime (ibid. 25 July 2003b). For background information about the SIEDO please refer to the Research Directorate's May 2004 Issue Paper Police: Mexico.
The SIEDO is divided into six units: 1) The Special Unit for Investigation into Crimes Against Health [narcotics possession and trafficking] (Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Delitos contra la Salud, UEIDCS) headed by Jorge Rosas Garcia (ibid. 25 July 2003c), 2) the Special Unit for Investigation of Terrorism, Arms Stockpiling and Trafficking (Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Terrorismo, Acopio y Trafico de Armas, UEITATA) led by Noe Ramirez Mandujano (ibid. 25 July 2003d), 3) the Special Unit for Investigation into Proceeds of Crime, Money Laundering and Counterfeiting (Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Operaciones con Recursos de Procedencia Ilicita y de Falsificacion o Alteracion de Moneda, UEIOFAM) headed by Luz Maria Nunez Camacho (ibid. 25 July 2003e), 4) the Special Unit for Investigation of Kidnapping (Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Secuestros, UEIS) led by Ricardo Martinez Chavez (ibid. 25 July 2003f), 5) the Special Unit for Investigation into Trafficking of Minors, Illegals and Human Organs (Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Trafico de Menores, Indocumentados y Organos, UEITMIO) [leader not listed] (ibid. 25 July 2003g), and 6) the Special Unit for Investigation into Assault and Vehicle Theft (Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Asalto y Robo de Vehiculos, UEIARV) headed by Eduardo Luna Alonso (ibid. 25 July 2003h).
SIEDO Activities
The PGR Website also mentions SIEDO in a number of press releases reporting on investigations and arrests of members allegedly involved in organized criminal activities in 2003 and 2004; please note that the press releases provided in this Information Request are not exhaustive:
In July 2003, the SIEDO assisted in the joint United States/Mexico investigation and arrest of members of an organized crime group headed by Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as "El Mayo Zambada" (ibid. 31 July 2003). In August 2003, the SIEDO took part in the investigation and arrest of 12 human traffickers in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Guanajuato who were connected to the deaths of 18 illegal immigrants in the United States (ibid. 12 Aug. 2003).
According to an August 2003 press release, Deputy Attorney General Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos reported that the PGR had disbanded four gangs known for carrying out kidnappings in the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Veracruz and Morelos (ibid. 25 Aug. 2003). Moreover, Santiago Vasconcelos noted that from 2001 until 25 August 2003, the PGR had taken apart 34 kidnapping gangs and had arrested 188 suspected kidnappers (ibid.).
In April 2004, SIEDO investigations resulted in the arrest of six members of a criminal organization who were using electronic funds transfers to launder bank proceeds of crime (Mexico 1 Apr. 2004). The six were charged under Mexico's proceeds of crime legislation (ibid.).
Drug-trafficking
In December 2003, the PGR announced that it had used information gathered during investigations carried out by the SIEDO and the Federal Investigations Agency (Agencia Federal de Investigaciones, AFI) to seize an illegal shipment of over three million tablets of pseudoephedrine at the international airport of Guadalajara, Jalisco (Mexico 11 Dec. 2003). According to the United States' Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), pseudoephedrine is one of the chemicals used to make metamphetamine (14 Apr. 2004).
In a 23 December 2003 press release, the PGR announced that SIEDO investigations had resulted in the 11 December 2003 takedown of a key international drug-trafficking organization in the port of Veracruz (ibid. 23 Dec. 2003). During the PGR operation named "Toro 2," AFI agents seized a number of vehicles and arrested ten suspected gang members from Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico (ibid.).
In January 2004, following the provision of information provided by United States, Central and South American authorities, and field investigations conducted by the SIEDO, AFI agents seized close to one metric ton of cocaine in the port of Veracruz (Mexico 6 Jan. 2004).
In a 26 January 2004 press release, the PGR announced that SIEDO's investigative work had resulted in the seizure of over one metric ton of cocaine found aboard two speedboats near the town of Benemerito de las Americas, Chiapas (ibid. 26 Jan. 2004). In February 2004, the PGR reported that the SIEDO had formally charged 10 drug traffickers arrested in November 2003 PGR operation called "Zorro" in the state of Sinaloa (ibid. 7 Feb. 2004). In March 2004, SIEDO investigations resulted in the arrests of three suspected drug-traffickers in Mexico City (ibid. 24 Mar. 2004).
According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2003 which contains data provided by the government of Mexico, 7,792 persons were detained for "drug-related charges" in 2003 (1 March 2004). Nevertheless, the number of convictions resulting from these arrests was not disclosed by the INCSR 2003 (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.
References
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2003. 1 March 2004. United States Department of State, Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2003/vol1/html/29833pf.htm> [Accessed 28 May 2004]
Mexico. 1 April 2004. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Arrested Six Members of a Criminal Organization Involved in Operations With Ill-Gotten Proceeds." (Press Release No. 327/04) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press04/abr/pr32704.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 24 March 2004. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Three Alleged Drug Traffickers Arrested in Mexico City." (Press Release No. 302/04) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press04/mar/pr30204.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 7 February 2004. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "10 Alleged Drug Traffickers Formally Charged." (Press Release No. 124/04) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press04/feb/pr12404.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 26 January 2004. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "The PGR Seizes Over One Ton of Cocaine And Two Speed Boats." (Press Release No. 075/04) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press04/ene/pr07504.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 6 January 2004. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "The PGR Seized Close to One Ton of Cocaine." (Press Release No. 014/04) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press04/ene/pr01404.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 23 December 2003. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Se desmantela una de las mas importantes organizaciones criminales de caracter internacional dedicada al trafico, comercializacion y distribucion de droga en varios paises." (Press Release 1290/03) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/bol03/dic/b129003.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 11 December 2003. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "The PGR Seizes a Shipment of Over Three Million Tablets of Pseudoephedrin." (Press Release No. 1253/03) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press03/dic/pr125303.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 August 2003. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Four Kidnapping Gangs Operating in the States of Mexico, Hidalgo, Veracruz and Morelos Dismantled." (Press Release No. 782/03) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press03/ago/pr78208.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 12 August 2003. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "12 Alleged Human Being Traffickers Arrested." (Press Release No. 719/03) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press03/ago/pr71908.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 31 July 2003. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Hard Blow to the Criminal Organization Headed by Ismael Zambada Garcia, Alias 'El Mayo Zambada'." (Press Release No. 681/03) <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/cmsocial/press03/jul/pr68107.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003a. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Subprocuradoria de Investigacion Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/INTRODUCCIONES/ SIEDO.htm> [Accessed 28 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003b. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Subprocurador de Investigacion Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/curriculum/ SIEDO.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003c. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Delitos contra la Salud." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/curriculum/UEIDCS.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003d. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Terrorismo, Acopio y Trafico de Armas." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/curriculum/UEITATA.htm> [26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003e. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Operaciones con Recursos de Procedencia Ilicita y de Falsificacion o Alteracion de Moneda." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/curriculum/UEIOFAM.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003f. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Secuestros." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/curriculum/UEIS.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003g. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Trafico de Menores, Indocumentados y Organos." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/Funcion/UEITMIO.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
____. 25 July 2003h. Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR). "Unidad Especializada en Investigacion de Asalto y Robo de Vehiculos." <http://wwwhtm.pgr.gob.mx/que_es_pgr/organigrama/curriculum/UEIARV.htm> [Accessed 26 May 2004]
United States. 14 April 2004. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). "Metamphetamine." <http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/methamph> [Accessed 31 May 2004]