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10 South Florida men charged and arrested for cocaine trafficking

MIAMI - On Monday, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested 10 Miami-Dade residents on drug smuggling charges.

Arrested and charged were Michel De La Osa, 37, Ariel Amaro, 37, Ramon Gonzalez, 35, all of Miami, Irenardo Labarte, 55, of Coral Gables, Yoan Diaz, 35, of Plantation, Fernando Hernandez, 56, of Hialeah Gardens, and Nivio Chaple, 38, Jose Reigosa, 52, Adonis Reigosa-Lorente, 27, and Mario Lastre, 36, all of Hialeah. The defendants were indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

This case is the result of a DEA-led multi-agency operation targeting a cocaine trafficking ring responsible for importing cocaine from Juarez, Mexico to the United States through El Paso, Texas and into South Florida.

After the cocaine arrived in South Florida, the defendants are charged with distributing the cocaine throughout South and Central Florida. To date, this enforcement operation has resulted in 19 arrests and seven convictions. Federal agents have also seized 25 kilograms of cocaine, more than $1.5 million in cash and jewelry, and several luxury vehicles.

The investigation was conducted by ICE HSI in Miami, DEA Miami Field Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Field Operations, Miami-Dade Police Department, Coral Gables Police Department and the West Miami Police Department.