U.S. Arrests 25, Seizes $20 Million From Alleged Colombia Heroin Ring

The U.S. Customs Service broke up a suspected Colombian heroin smuggling ring Wednesday that was described as the largest ever detected in the Caribbean, arresting 25 people and seizing $20 million from banks in eight countries.

The arrests were carried out without incident about 2 a.m. Wednesday in Puerto Rico after a yearlong undercover operation, according to customs officials. Five fugitives from the operation remain at large. About 400 pounds of heroin were also seized.

U.S. officials have grown increasingly concerned about the spread of Colombian heroin because of its unusually high purity. Its high purity means it can be smoked or inhaled, which authorities and public health officials fear will make it more attractive to would-be users who were repulsed by the necessity of using needles.

In 1997, the Drug Enforcement Administration found that more than 60% of the heroin seized in the United States originated in Colombia, a relatively new development that shows how Colombian drug organizations, traditionally the primary suppliers of cocaine to the United States and Europe, have diversified. Colombian criminal organizations provide about 80% of the world’s cocaine.

In addition to the arrests and seizures, bank accounts belonging to the suspected drug traffickers were frozen in Canada, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Britain and Argentina, customs officials said. Much of the money generated by the sales was also shipped in bulk back to Puerto Rico, then moved back to Colombia by wire transfers.

Customs officials identified the suspected leader of the organization as Jesus Saenz Blanco, 33, a Miami resident and Colombia native.