Puerto Rico: Mother sells weapons with her children

 

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The Special Investigations Bureau (NIE) gave a decisive blow against the trafficking of firearms through an investigation that began last summer and culminated with the signing of 15 arrest warrants for the past two days, leading to the arrest of some 11 accused.

But behind the story of the operation, there arises a mother who allegedly took some of her five children to at least two firearms transactions with undercover agents of the NIE, the criminal investigations arm of the Department of Justice. It is clear from the research, Ivia Annette Rodriguez Rivera, better known as "the La Nena" could get from an AK-47, one of the favorite assault rifles from the gunmen, to an Uzi, a submachine gun or machine gun source Israel has also gained great popularity in the underworld. In fact, Nena, 37 years old, had no prior criminal record, but supposedly ranked as one of the suppliers would have more access to weapons.

The research shows that this proved to be an extremely pushy salesperson, going so far as to call on several occasions to undercover agents to sell arms. Still, the investigation revealed that Rodriguez Rivera participated in four transactions that were recorded last September, October and February. In the first purchase, she sold a nine-millimeter Uzi to $ 2,000, a gun, ammunition and chargers, for a total of $ 3.500.This transaction took place in the mall parking lot Mall Plaza del Caribe in Vega Alta.

But the alleged trafficker continued its sales in the parking lot of this and other mall, and even express the marginal José de Diego, the PR-22. She sold guns and ammunition for an amount that exceeded $ 5,000. In two of these transactions, the woman was accompanied by four of her children between 10 and 14 years of age. These children are under the custody of the Department of Family since the woman was arrested at her apartment, located in the residential Murals in Manati, on Tuesday.

It follows from the investigation that the defendant has another 16 year old daughter who lives with a man 22 year old .Social workers tried to locate this child during the day yesterday.

The residential neighbors Murals chose to remain silent about the operation that took place on Tuesday night and that caused the arrest of Rodriguez Rivera and the removal of most of her children.

In Rivera Rodriguez's apartment in the building 12 residential complex, there was no one appeared, although the arrest was living there with her husband and four of his five children.

A First Time questions about how police intervention was implemented and the arrest of women surveyed reported that residents did not get into the personal lives of their neighbors.

Only one resident, who said his name was Lisa, said that it seemed excessive amount of police officers who entered public housing complex.

Meanwhile, another woman who was not identified said that whenever she saw Rodriguez Rivera watched with his offspring.

Major operating

The operation of NIE focused on the people of Corozal, Vega Alta and Bayamón and added two more devices that are staged arrest in Morovis and Orocovis. According to said Attorney General Guillermo Somoza Colombani, your agency may identify an intermediary, one of the accused identified as Luis Alvarez Oquendo, who contacted the dealers for transactions. The undercover paid about $ 40,000 for 23 guns, 1/8 kilo of cocaine and two packets of marijuana.

"Our direction with this type of intervention is to prevent further poisoning of children and youth of Puerto Rico, and restore security to the residents of the mountain," said Somoza Colombani.

Those arrested include a car parts salesman who apparently used his lunch hour to sell firearms. This was identified as Joaquin Pradit Rosa Figueroa. Many of the detainees also have a prior criminal record, whether for kidnapping, violations of the Arms Act and drugs. Of the 11 arrested, 10 were admitted to a prison while another defendant, identified as Joel Trinidad Matos, released on bond. Another detainee, identified as Hector L. Rosado Salgado, has a construction company. The price of the weapons seized in the operation impact to the Mountain III fluctuated between $ 1.250 and $ 2.800.(read in Spanish here)

Carib Comment:  another clip here