An indictment was unsealed this week against Jose Guadalupe Tapia-Quintero, age 42, a Mexican national and high ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, according to DEA Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman. As a transportation coordinator for the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, Tapia Quintero used his businesses to move large quantities of methamphetamine at a time from the interior of Mexico to the U.S/Mexico border including Arizona.
Tapia-Quintero was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2013 on various counts including Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine with Intent to Import, Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Commit Concealment Money Laundering.
Jose Guadalupe Tapia-Quintero, aka “Lupe”, is a resident of Sinaloa, Mexico and owned various businesses including bus and tractor-trailer companies in Mexico. Tapia-Quintero, a trusted ally of the Sinaloa Cartel, controlled key drug distribution routes from Sinaloa, Mexico to destination points along the Southwest Border.
In total, the long term investigation to date has resulted in seizure of 148.5 pounds of Methamphetamine; 30 kilograms of Cocaine; over $770,000.00 dollars; and three arrests.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the DEA Phoenix OCDETF Strike Force and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation with the assistance of the DEA Special Operations Division, Scottsdale Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.