Chicago Drug Fugitives Arrested in Mexico

Two former Chicago residents with ties to a sophisticated drug operation who had been on the run from law enforcement for nearly a decade, were located and arrested earlier this week in Mexico, announced Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Jody P. Weis, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD).

JUAN CARLOS DURAN, age 34, who is also known as “Psycho” and his common law wife, DIONNE GARCIA, age 33, both of whom were last known to reside at 2955 West 40th Street in Chicago, were arrested without incident on Tuesday, October 5th, near Tijuana, Mexico, by members of the Policia Estatal Preventiva (PEP), an international liaison and enforcement unit.

DURAN and GARCIA have been the subjects of an international manhunt, coordinated by the Chicago FBI’s Joint Task Force on Gangs (JTFG), since late 2001 when both were charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with violation of Federal drug laws. DURAN was charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute (PCP) and conspiracy while GARCIA was charged with conspiracy.

DURAN and GARCIA were among 52 people charged in connection with an investigation code named “Operation Blue Water”, which targeted a Chicago based street gang that manufactured and distributed PCP in Chicago and northwest Indiana. DURAN eluded arrest at the time the charges were filed while GARCIA fled after being released on bond following her arrest.

The arrest of DURAN and GARCIA was the result of a tip provided by a viewer of the television show “America’s Most Wanted” who saw DURAN and GARCIA featured during a recent episode. Further investigation by the Chicago JTFG, with the assistance of FBI Agents assigned to the Resolution Six initiative in Tijuana and Mexican authorities, ultimately resulted in the location of DURAN and GARCIA and their subsequent arrest.

DURAN and GARCIA were turned over to FBI Agents in San Diego, late yesterday. They are scheduled to have their initial court appearance later this afternoon, prior to their eventual return to Chicago to face the outstanding charges.

The Chicago FBI’s Joint Task Force on Gangs is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Gang Crimes Officers from the Chicago Police Department.