EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Two warrants served at an apartment complex in El Paso’s Lower Valley resulted in the arrests of three people on Friday, Jan. 17 after they were found in possession of firearms and cocaine, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced in a news release.
Arturo Ramirez Manzano, 27, who also goes under the name of Tadeo, along with Mario Ivan Ramirez, 21, and Corina Hernandez, 30, all from El Paso, were arrested after being found in possession of firearms and cocaine, DPS said. Two rifles were seized in addition to nearly one kilogram of cocaine, DPS added.
DPS said all suspects are convicted felons and are currently under federal probation. They were charged with unlawful possession of firearm by felon and manufacture/delivery of controlled substance. All were booked into the El Paso County Jail.
The arrests were part of an operation targeting members of a transnational criminal organization (TCO) with ties to the La Empresa cartel and Paisa prison gang who have been identified to engage in various crimes including smuggling of persons, firearm possession and drug trafficking, DPS said.
DPS said Ramirez admitted to being a member of the Paisa prison gang and being a key coordinator for the human smuggling organization that is led by La Empresa and operates in Juarez and the El Paso border area.
Ramirez was also charged with deadly conduct/discharge firearm after being identified in a recent shooting incident, DPS said.
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