A massive multi-state crackdown has dismantled a transnational drug trafficking network linked to the notorious Beltrán Leyva Cartel, leading to the indictment of 22 individuals.
Federal officials revealed that the organization was smuggling over a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into the U.S., laundering drug profits, and attempting to smuggle firearms into Mexico.
Nationwide Crackdown Leads to Arrests
In a coordinated sweep across California, Arizona, Iowa, and Colorado, more than 150 law enforcement officers arrested 10 suspects and carried out six search warrants in Imperial County. Meanwhile, 12 fugitives remain at large.
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Massive Drug Seizure
The operation, spanning months of investigation and multiple raids, resulted in the seizure of over 2,200 pounds of narcotics, including:
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1,653 pounds of fentanyl
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10 firearms
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$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 dismantling this cartel-linked trafficking ring, we’re stopping the destruction and violence it brings.”
Cartel Ties and Smuggling Operations
Operating out of Mexicali, Mexico, and Imperial County, California, the defendants served as a key distribution cell for the Beltrán Leyva Cartel, working closely with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, also known as El Chapo Isidro.
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Key Drug Seizures
Investigators used undercover buys, wiretaps, and searches of stash houses to track cartel operations. Some of the largest drug seizures include:
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January 23, 2023 – 1.4 million fentanyl pills (148.53 kg) from a semi-truck
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May 9, 2023 – 483,000 fentanyl pills (48.3 kg) from a semi-truck
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May 25, 2023 – 480,000 fentanyl pills (48.6 kg), 72.29 kg of meth, and a loaded 9mm handgun from a semi-truck
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October 9, 2023 – 139,000 fentanyl pills and 36.66 kg of meth
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March 14, 2024 – 59.48 kg of meth during a traffic stop
Authorities also confiscated a stash of firearms, including gold-plated AR-15 rifles bound for Mexico.
Charges and Legal Consequences
Five defendants are additionally charged with human smuggling. The accused face serious charges, including:
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Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
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Money laundering conspiracy
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Attempted transfer of firearms for drug trafficking
With key members of this operation in custody, federal agencies vow to continue their crackdown on cartel-linked drug networks.
