Eight arrested in drug ring that crossed state lines

The Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division announced eight people were arrested in connection with a drug ring that stretched across the United States.

Federal authorities arrested the eight people who were linked to a marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracy.

The ring was based in El Paso. However, it was also working out of Denver and Minneapolis.

Jose Raul Marquez-Erives, Hector Alonso Renteria-Torres, Victor Portillo, Jesus Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Patricia Toriz, Jesus Estrada,Roberto Ceniceros-Cervantes and Manuel Salaices were all arrested in connection with the ring for a variety of marijuana related charges.

Some of the charges against the arrested, conspiracy to import a controlled substance over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, carry a term of 10 years to life.

Another charge, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.

According to the DEA, the El Paso based ring operated by taking shipments of marijuana to areas in and around El Paso from people in Juarez.

Those drugs were then sent off to Denver, and eventually Minneapolis, the DEA said.

Money earned through this ring was deposited into back account ran by Marquez-Erives.

At this point none of the suspects have been convicted.