Mexican "Crime Queen" Arrested




(Los Angeles, California) Federal agents have arrested Mexican drug cartel operative Anel Violeta Noriega Rios, 27, in her El Monte, California, residence.

Noriega Rios is also known as "La Bonita," meaning "The Pretty One." Her usual nickname is "La Reina de Crimen," which means, "The Queen of Crime."

With a 5 million peso ($375,000) reward on her head, Noriega Rios faces drug trafficking and organized crime charges in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

Noriega Rios is an alleged member of the La Familia cartel based in the Mexican state of Michoacan, and she was one of its main U.S.-based operatives, authorities charge. The cartel is known to be "extremely violent," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

Mexican authorities charge that Noriega Rios helped oversee the cartel's methamphetamine distribution activities in California and Washington state, ICE officials said.

The cartel also is allegedly engaged in cocaine and marijuana trafficking, kidnapping, extortion and producing methamphetamine for export to the United States, U.S. officials said.

Noriega Rios was turned over to Mexican authorities at the border crossing in San Ysidro, California. Hope it sticks. She has been sent back to Mexico several times previously.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.