A fugitive female member of La Familia Michoacana cartel, for whom Mexico offered a $5 million peso reward, is in custody in her native country following her capture in Los Angeles last week and subsequent deportation.
Anel Violeta Noriega Rios, 27, was arrested on June 27 at her El Monte residence by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Noriega Rios was taken into custody on administrative immigration violations, she has no criminal convictions here. Two days later she was transported to the border crossing at San Ysidro, Calif., and turned over to Mexican authorities under tight security.
Noriega Rios is charged in a 64-page criminal warrant issued in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in January 2010. Mexican authorities allege Noriega is one of La Familia’s main U.S.-based operatives, helping oversee the organization’s methamphetamine distribution activities in California and Washington state.
Rooted in the Mexican state of Michoacan, La Familia is known for being extremely violent. According to U.S. authorities, the cartel is engaged in narcotics trafficking, kidnapping, extortion and other criminal activities. In addition to distributing cocaine and marijuana, the organization is also believed to be heavily involved in producing methamphetamine for export to the United States.
Noriega Rios was arrested and repatriated to Mexico five times by U.S.Border Patrol agents between 2004 and 2005.
