 |
| Carlos Alberto "La Rana" Oliva Castillo |
U.S. moves to seize alleged Zeta ranch in Starr County
U.S. authorities have taken action to seize a ranch north of Rio
Grande City that they claim belongs to a man identified by the
Mexican government as a Zeta lieutenant.
In forfeiture documents filed earlier this week by the Internal
Revenue Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, authorities say the 200-acre property near Farm-to-Market Road 2686 belongs to 38-year-old Carlos Alberto “La Rana” Oliva Castillo. Oliva isn’t listed as the owner, though. That distinction belongs to Carlos Ricardo Tamez Tirado, a doctor who,like Oliva, is from Diaz Ordaz — across the border from Sullivan City.
In court records, authorities accused Oliva of being a member of a criminal organization and of having paid for the ranch using drug proceeds.
Oliva was arrested by the Mexican military in the Coahuila state city of Saltillo last month in connection with an ongoing investigation into a Monterrey casino fire that killed dozens of civilians. The casino allegedly was set on fire by the Zetas under Oliva’s orders for failing to pay extortion money.
According to the Mexican federal government, Oliva was the former plaza boss for Monterrey and surrounding cities.
The forfeiture documents don’t identify Oliva as a Zeta but state that he was a member of a criminal organization since 2005 and had a leadership role, having been tasked with organizing networks of
cocaine shipments throughout the U.S. and also with cash shipments into Mexico.
Oliva is under indictment in the U.S. for a number of drug charges.
Court records show that the listed value of the property was $125,000, but the actual price paid for it was $400,000. Records show that Tirado didn’t take part in the negotiations but was only a straw
purchaser. The ranch was allegedly used as a staging area for drug activities.
Source: The Monitor
Ildefonso Ortiz covers law enforcement and general assignments forThe Monitor.
