Gabriel Colón named Narcotics Officer of Year

Investigator Gabriel Colón of the Webb County District Attorney's office has been named Texas Narcotics Officer of the Year for the Southern Region by the Texas Narcotics Officers Association.

Colón, the DA's lead case agent, is assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration's narcotics task force. A modest individual, Colón has never sought accolades, for he enjoys his job and says he looks forward to waking up in the morning and going to work.

The work of DEA investigators oftentimes goes unnoticed, not because the public does not value what these investigators do, but because theirs is an association of agents assigned to covertly eliminate illegal drugs that pervade our society.

As a member of the DEA task force against organized crime, Colón has teamed up with other law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the US Marshals, the IRS, Immigration Customs Enforcement, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The joint investigation conducted by those agencies brought an end to an organized crime ring that involved the shipment of 150 kilos of cocaine and over 30,000 kilos of marijuana from Texas to Georgia , North Carolina , and Tennessee .

The investigation was dubbed “Operation Igloo” due to the organization's repeated use of Igloo ice chests to hide and transport thousands of dollars of drug proceeds. The criminal organization was based in Laredo and was responsible for shipping the cocaine and marijuana across the country and for laundering as much as $15 million in drug proceeds, which was often transported in the walls of Igloo ice chests.

In July 2004, Investigator Colón presented the case to a federal grand jury in Laredo . The grand jury returned indictments for ringleaders Joe and Simon Lopez, as well as 25 criminal associates. They were charged with various federal violations, including Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Posses with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, and Conspiracy to Launder Drug Proceeds.

Joe and Simon Lopez pled guilty to Conspiracy to Posses with Intent to Distribute in excess of 1,000 kilos of marijuana and in excess of five kilos of cocaine. They were also fined $15 million. Of the 24 defendants initially arrested, 23 have since pled guilty. Three remain fugitives.

When asked why he loves his job, Colón said, “I just enjoy what I do. I want to get drugs off the streets and away from our kids.” His co-workers consider him an asset to the Webb County District Attorney's office.

“Gabriel has demonstrated his commitment to pursuing the criminal elements that infiltrate our communities with drugs and violence. Gabriel's contribution to the District Attorney's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration has furthered efforts to protect the public by taking drugs and drug traffickers off the streets. His recognition by the Texas Narcotics Officers Association is very much deserved,” said Joe Rubio, District Attorney for Webb and Zapata counties.