Operation 'Kosovo' nets 11 arrests for drug trafficking, firearms violations

SAN JUAN – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, working jointly with officers of the Puerto Rico Police Department in Arecibo and the Puerto Rico Bureau of Special Investigations, arrested 11 individuals Thursday for drug trafficking and possession of illegal arms.

The indictment alleges that between on-or-about May 2018 and November 2018, the organization distributed cocaine, crack, heroin, and marijuana, all within the real property comprising the Villa Evangelina Public Housing Project located in the Municipality of Manatí. The 14 defendants are each facing one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, aiding and abetting.

The following individuals where arrested:

• Luis Ortega-Lugo, aka Chembo
• Jeyro Ayala-Crespo, aka Jero
• José Tobar-Oterao, aka El Visco
• Josué Arroyo-Ayala, aka Deiby
• Jessie Rodríguez-Lugo, aka Chicky
• Xavier Rivera-Santiago, aka Payco
• José Antonio Flores-Torres, aka Chory
• Adalberto Quiles-Negrón, aka El Berto
• Juan Laureano-Miranda, aka Juanchy
• Jan Paul Quiñones-Mujica, aka Menor
• Jeremy Torres-Rosario

Three other individuals, Luis Esteban Alonso-Rivera, Kelvin Rivera-Morales and Xavier Robles remain at-large.

Those arrested had their initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos Lopez Thursday and were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting the outcome of their case. The bail hearings were scheduled for July 23 and 24 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Henek oversees the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to life in prison.