A massive multi-state operation has dismantled a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking organization with ties to the notorious Sinaloa-based Beltran Leyva Cartel, resulting in the indictment of 22 individuals.
Federal authorities announced today that the organization was responsible for importing and distributing over a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into the United States, laundering illicit proceeds, and attempting to export firearms to Mexico.
In a coordinated takedown across California, Arizona, Iowa, and Colorado, over 150 law enforcement officials arrested 10 defendants and executed six search warrants in Imperial County. Twelve suspects remain fugitives.
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The operation, which included seizures today and throughout a long-term investigation, yielded over 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) of drugs, including more than 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds) of fentanyl, 10 firearms, and over $250,000 in cash.
“We have literally seized a ton of drugs that were destined to hit our streets and harm our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “By disrupting this prolific, cartel-linked trafficking network, we are preventing the devastation and violence it brings.”
The defendants, operating from Mexicali, Mexico, and Imperial County, California, acted as a distribution cell for the Beltrán Leyva Cartel, specifically associated with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, also known as El Chapo Isidro.
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The investigation, utilizing undercover operations and wiretaps, uncovered numerous controlled drug purchases, vehicle stops, and searches of stash houses, leading to substantial narcotics seizures. Key seizures include:
- January 23, 2023: 1.4 million fentanyl pills (148.53 kilograms) seized from a semi-truck.
- May 9, 2023: 483,000 fentanyl pills (48.30 kilograms) seized from a semi-truck.
- May 25, 2023: 480,000 fentanyl pills (48.6 kilograms), 72.29 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a loaded 9mm handgun seized from a semi-truck.
- October 9, 2023: 139,000 fentanyl pills and 36.66 kilograms of methamphetamine seized.
- March 14, 2024: 59.48 kilograms of methamphetamine seized during a traffic stop.
Authorities also seized firearms, including gold-plated AR-15 rifles and other weapons, destined for Mexico.
Five defendants are also implicated in alien smuggling.
The defendants face charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering conspiracy, and attempted transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime.
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The investigation was a collaborative effort involving numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
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