HSI, local law enforcement joint operation nets 6 arrests, seizure of illegal weapons, drugs

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Law enforcement authorities made six arrests and seized illegal weapons and drugs this week in Puerto Rico as part of Operation Caribbean Resilience.

Operation Caribbean Resilience is a joint initiative led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that includes the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the San Juan Police Department (SJPD).

As part of the operation, special agents and officers arrested William Oyola Mulero, 27, of San Juan, Wednesday at the Alturas de Cupey public housing project in San Juan. Officers seized 45 bags of marijuana from Mulero in making the arrest.

In the same housing complex, HSI and local partners seized a .40 caliber, series 22 Glock pistol; a .40 caliber, series 23, Glock pistol; 58 rounds of ammunition; and four .40 caliber magazines.

At different locations within the public housing complex, task force officers seized five additional .40 caliber magazines; 58 rounds of 9 caliber ammunition; an AR15 rifle; 427 rounds of 2.23 caliber ammunition; a 9 caliber, Sig Sauer model P229 pistol; a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver; 52 rounds of 9 caliber ammunition; three .40 caliber and two 9 caliber magazines; and 910 capsules of crack cocaine.

On Tuesday, Luis Esteban Guzman Gonzalez, 18, was arrested at the Jardines del Paraiso public housing project in San Juan by members of the task force. Guzman Gonzalez was in possession of one bag of marijuana, a .40 caliber Beretta pistol and a .40 caliber magazine. Similarly, Jose Ocasio Santiago was arrested in possession of 32 grams of marijuana and 13 grams of cocaine.

Three other individuals were also arrested by members of the task force Tuesday whose cases were accepted by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico for prosecution. Ruben Vazquez Viust, Roberto Cruz Olavarria and Anthony Fuentes Quiñones were arrested at the Jardines del Paraiso public housing complex for possession of illegal weapons. Task force officers seized a .40 caliber Glock pistol; 46, .40 caliber rounds of ammunition; and three magazines from Vazquez Viust. A 9 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol; 49, 9 caliber rounds of ammunition; and two magazines were seized from Cruz Olavarria while an AK-47 rifle; a .40 caliber Glock pistol; and 47, 7.62 caliber and 11, .40 caliber rounds of ammunition were seized from Fuentes Quiñones.

Operation Caribbean Resilience, an HSI-led, PRPD and SJPD joint effort to initiate a series of public safety law enforcement surges against violent crimes and illegal activity in areas of high intensity criminal activity and drug trafficking in response to the unprecedented number of violent crimes committed in Puerto Rico last year. The operation, which began in January, has netted hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegal arms as well as narcotics.