Operation "Catch me if you can" nabs two involved with Mexican drug cartels

Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety

IIMPACT arrests two suspects in connection with Operation "Catch me if you can"

Thursday, October 06, 2011 -

On October 6^th, Illegal Immigration Prevention & Apprehension Co-Op Team (IIMPACT) detectives made two arrests in connection with an operation aptly named "Catch me if you can”. The coordinated effort between the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), Homeland Security Investigations, and the Phoenix Police Department led to the arrest of Ines Moreno, a 24-year-old male from the United States, and Teram Palacious, a 31-year-old man who is from Mexico.

Known to be heavily armed with AK-47's, they have had numerous contacts with law enforcement, including Customs and Border Patrol, and most recently fled from DPS Officers leaving behind hundreds of pounds of marijuana.

These suspects are known operatives of several drug cartels in Mexico and were a part of a well organized group intending to transport and sell marijuana in the United States in addition to Human Smuggling.

Search warrants were served in both Eloy and Phoenix which ultimately led to the arrest of both subjects. The suspects will be booked on several charges, including Possesion of Marijuana for sale, Participation in a Criminal Syndicate, Illegal Control of an Enterprise and Forgery.

IIMPACT (Illegal Immigration Prevention & Apprehension Co-op Team) is a multi-agency project managed by GIITEM of the Arizona Department of Public Safety that is designed to “deter, disrupt and dismantle violent criminal organizations profiting from human smuggling.” In most IIMPACT cases, crimes of kidnapping, extortion, assault and human smuggling are prevalent. IIMPACT is comprised of investigators from the Phoenix Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).