The Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J.- A Mexican citizen alleged to be the leader of a smuggling ring that brought about 9,000 pounds of cocaine into the United States has been arrested, federal authorities said Tuesday.
Agustin Haro-Rodriguez, also known as Daniel Arceo-Fonceca, was arrested Sunday night trying to cross the border from Mexico into Arizona, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said.
The arrest announcement was accompanied by the unsealing of an indictment charging Haro-Rodriguez and 24 alleged ring members with narcotics trafficking and money laundering. Seventeen of the 25 are in custody, the DEA said.
According to the indictment, between March 2004 and July 2005 Haro-Rodriguez’s organization typically distributed about 500 pounds of cocaine per month with a street value of more than $5 million.
Some of the money from the sales was smuggled back to Mexico from the New York City area concealed in music equipment, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 10 years on the narcotics trafficking charges. Some also face additional penalties for the money laundering charges.