In 1993, DEA receivedinformation that this group had smuggled cocaine into the United States in excess of 30 metric tons with a street value of hundreds of millions of dollars.

In early October 1994, Mexican authorities arrested Juan's brother Humberto on money laundering charges. Several other prominent traffickers associated with the group were arrested as well. Juan Garcia Abrego was arrested on January 14, 1996, by Mexican authorities. He was expelled to the United States and arrested on a federal warrant from Texas charging him with conspiracy to import cocaine and the management of a continuing criminal enterprise.