So, the ATF was running guns *and* drugs? Ahem… WTF??

**Posted by Phineas

Are we sure they’re not the Mafia in disguise?

From the El Paso Times:

U.S. federal agents allegedly allowed the Sinaloa drug cartel to traffic several tons of cocaine into the United States in exchange for information about rival cartels, according to court documents filed in a U.S. federal court.

The allegations are part of the defense of Vicente Zambada-Niebla, who was extradited to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges in Chicago. He is also a top lieutenant of drug kingpin Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman and the son of Ismael “Mayo” Zambada-Garcia, believed to be the brains behind the Sinaloa cartel.

The case could prove to be a bombshell on par with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ “Operation Fast and Furious,” except that instead of U.S. guns being allowed to walk across the border, the Sinaloa cartel was allowed to bring drugs into the United States. Zambada-Niebla claims he was permitted to smuggle drugs from 2004 until his arrest in 2009.

In other words, an arm of the federal government allowed one gang to bring drugs into the US in return for information about other gangs. Drugs that would enrich the gang through proceeds from their sale. Drugs that would destroy lives through their use and through the violence association with the trade. Drugs that are a federal crime to move and sell. These aren’t minor offenses being overlooked here for the greater good.

Erick Erickson of Red State wonders why Holder still has a job. While that’s a good question for many good reasons, look at the dates in the article: these operations date back through George W. Bush into Bill Clinton’s administration, indicating a tradition of “felony stupid;” they include contract killings done for the cartel while the assassin was under ICE “supervision.”

Granted, the source for this is himself a cartel member who has every incentive to save himself by claiming he was working for the US, but, if he has the proof to back this up or can get it turned over via discovery… “Bombshell” would be a very mild description. And, in the light of what we already know and are learning about the “Gunwalker” fiasco, it’s disturbingly plausible. At the very least, this is another avenue for Congressman Issa’s already-busy investigators to follow.

Meanwhile, I have to ask: What the Sam Hill is going on at ATF??

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

Comments are closed.