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IA Melissa Conway and SA Sean Stephen King examine
more of the Mt. Express seizures.
Operation Mountain Express continued with phase two, using
information gained in phase one of the operation to identify
registrants (physicians or pharmacists who are authorized to
handle controlled substances) who were involved in the illegal
diversion of pusedo and to cancel their registrations. The
rogue registrants were not subject to criminal prosecution, but
were prohibited from working with controlled substances.
Operations Mountain Express I & II effectively shut down the
illegal pusedo trade within the United States. Traffickers
began to look for sources of supply in Canada and the illegal
trade and transport between Canada, and the U.S. grew.
Operation Mountain Express III was created when DEA
pursued this new pseudo trafficking market in Canada. Intelligence
indicated that traffickers were purchasing large amounts
of pseudo in Canada and then returning to the U.S. with the
product, often via the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. As a
result, Detroit and nearby Chicago became hubs of pusedo
distribution. From these points, pusedo was transported to
California and distributed to meth “super labs” where it was
converted to methamphetamine by Mexico-based drug traffickers.
The successful conclusion of Operation Express III was
announced by DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson, U.S.
Customs Commissioner (and former DEA Administrator) Robert
Bonner, and IRS Deputy Commissioner Bob Wenzel.
Operation Mountain Express III ended on January 10, 2002,
when DEA Special Agents, assisted by the U.S. Customs
Service, Internal Revenue Service, and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police arrested 54 traffickers, in addition to the 67
previously arrested as part of the investigations.
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SA Efren G. Lapuz and INS Pat Comey at the Carlesbad
Resident Office.
Operation Mountain Express did unprecedented damage to
the methamphetamine trade. In 2001, there were a total of 6,000
pounds of meth seized by the DEA; the three phases of
Operation Mountain Express resulted in the seizure of nearly
30 tons of pseudoephedrine, which could produce 37,000
pounds of meth. The operations also yielded 371 arrests and
the seizure of 269 pounds of meth, 151 vehicles, 13 weapons,
and nearly $17.5 million. DEA also tightened regulatory
controls over DEA-registered chemical handlers. Legislative
initiatives were also undertaken to address weaknesses in the
regulatory framework. Additionally, the investigation traced
large amounts of profit being sent to individuals in the Middle
East, who had possible ties to terrorist organizations.