A U.S. Border Patrol agent in Hereford searches a vehicle suspected of helping to smuggle three migrants who had entered the U.S. illegally on Feb. 17, 2023. The driver, along with an accomplice, drove his mother's car from California and stopped to pick up three migrants on the side of the highway in front of a Border Patrol agent, authorities said. At100146 Copy
El Centro, California – A major drug bust has resulted in the indictment of 22 individuals and the arrests of 10 others in connection to a transnational drug trafficking organization with links to the Sinaloa-based Beltran Leyva Cartel, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, those indicted are accused of importing and distributing over a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into the United States, laundering proceeds from drug sales, and attempting to smuggle firearms into Mexico. The operation spanned multiple states, with over 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials conducting arrests and search warrants across California, Arizona, Iowa, and Colorado.
Seizures throughout the investigation totaled more than 1,000 kilograms (about 2,204 pounds) of drugs, including over 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds) of fentanyl. Law enforcement also confiscated 10 firearms and more than $250,000 in drug proceeds.
According to search warrants, the defendants were part of a criminal enterprise based in Mexicali, Mexico, and Imperial County, California. The organization allegedly operated as a drug distribution cell for the Beltran Leyva Cartel, specifically under the control of Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, also known as “El Chapo Isidro.”
Investigators employed wiretaps and conducted controlled purchases, vehicle searches, and raids on stash houses, leading to several large drug seizures. The indictment details multiple major busts, including:
- January 2023: 1.4 million fentanyl pills seized from a semi-truck shipment.
- May 2023: 483,000 fentanyl pills intercepted from another semi-truck shipment.
- May 2023: Another bust yielding 480,000 fentanyl pills, 72.29 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a loaded 9mm handgun.
- March 2024: A traffic stop led to the seizure of 59.48 kilograms (131.13 pounds) of methamphetamine.
Federal agents also discovered weapons during the investigation, including two gold-plated AR-15 rifles hidden inside a 55-gallon barbecue grill in August 2023. Additionally, two rifles, two pistols, over 2,100 rounds of ammunition, and seven magazines were seized from suspects attempting to transport them to drug traffickers in Mexicali.
The investigation also revealed a violent aspect of the trafficking network. During one wiretap operation, an Imperial County-based narcotics subdistributor was shot multiple times in Mexicali and later died—believed to be a targeted attack related to drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America and is being prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which targets major criminal organizations involved in narcotics distribution and financial crimes.
As of Thursday, search warrants remain active for 12 additional suspects. Federal authorities continue efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal network.
