Alleged 'Queen of Mexican Crime' Deported After Arrest in El Monte
A week after her arrest in El Monte, Mexican authorities identify a woman as a top drug cartel operative
Wednesday, Jul 4, 2012 | Updated 2:17 PM PDT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This image provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency shows a photo of Anel Violeta Noriega Rios, 27, being arrested June 27, 2012 in Los Angeles. Noriega Rios, a fugitive female member of La Familia Michoacana cartel, for whom Mexico offered a $5 million peso reward, was later deported back to Mexico. (AP Photo/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
A 27-year-old fugitive arrested last month at her El Monte residence and handed over to officials in Mexico is a top operative in the La Familia drug cartel working out of the United States, according to Mexican authorities.
In Mexico, the media called Anel Violeta Noriega Rios "La Reina del Crimen" -- "the queen of Mexican crime."
Noriega Rios was arrested June 27 without incident. Two days later she was taken to a border crossing in San Ysidro and turned over to Mexican authorities under tight security.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Noriega Rios once used a gardening company to move drugs brought by sea into Long Beach.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say Noriega Rios was arrested in the United States and deported to Mexico five times between 2004 and 2005 but has no criminal convictions in the United States.
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