As the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) leverages its global network to combat transnational crimes tied to visa and passport fraud. Positioned at the gateway to Latin America, the DSS Miami Field Office plays a critical role in addressing these challenges, making it an ideal stop for journalists participating in a recent reporting tour organized by the State Department’s Foreign Press Center. The tour focused on countering transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere.
During the tour, Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the DSS Miami Field Office briefed 13 journalists from South and Central America and the Caribbean. McSeveney explained how DSS investigates passport and visa fraud, tools often exploited by individuals seeking to alter their identities and conceal activities linked to crimes such as illegal immigration, terrorism, human and drug trafficking, and murder.
McSeveney highlighted the DSS collaborative approach to dismantling criminal networks, tracking fugitives, and ensuring their return to face justice. By partnering with federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies, DSS shares intelligence, coordinates operations, and leverages collective resources and expertise to disrupt transnational criminal activities.
DSS efforts to counter transnational crime extend across the Western Hemisphere, as demonstrated by the following investigations:
On June 5, 2025, DSS special agents at the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic assisted the Dominican National Police in arresting two sex traffickers and rescuing nine victims during Operation Aurora. The traffickers now face Dominican charges thanks to DSS investigative work and support from the embassy’s Homeland Security Investigations Attaché Office. Read more.
In May 2025, DSS special agents at U.S. Embassy Belmopan partnered with the DSS Miami Field Office, Belizean authorities, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Customs and Border Protection to apprehend a fugitive who had evaded capture for over a year. The individual was returned to the U.S. and taken into custody at Miami International Airport. The fugitive faces multiple charges in Fla., including burglary and assault on a law enforcement officer. Read more.
In April 2025, DSS special agents from the Houston Field Office, with support from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement & Removal Operations, arrested Johana Cuervo Castrillon for overstaying her visa and conspiring with a Colombian-based human smuggling ring. Cuervo was the seventh and final suspect arrested in Operation Heartless, a multi-year international investigation led by DSS in coordination with the Colombian National Police and Department of Homeland Security. Read more.
In April 2025, Carla Magaly Alcedo Mendoza was accused of managing a network of Peruvian call centers that extorted more than $15 million from Spanish-speaking consumers in the United States. DSS worked with U.S. interagency and Peruvian partners to locate and capture Alcedo and bring her to the United States to face justice. Read more
In August 2025, Tevin Williams and Zakiya Williams were deported from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States to face federal charges for drug trafficking and failure to appear in court. DSS special agents, U.S. Marshals Service Task Force officers, and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service officers coordinated their return. This marked the first simultaneous extradition of two fugitives in recent memory, showcasing the strong law enforcement partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Read more
In June 2025, DSS Miami Field Office special agents apprehended a Honduran national who had been living under a false identity for over 30 years. With support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, the individual was arrested at Miami International Airport while attempting to leave the country on an international flight. Read more.
“These cases underscore the DSS commitment to combating transnational crime and fostering international cooperation to protect global security,” said McSeveney. “Through its partnerships and investigative expertise, DSS continues to play a vital role in dismantling criminal networks and ensuring justice across borders.”
