In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, authorities arrested 36 individuals in California with ties to the Sinaloa cartel. The operation, which involved over 400 law enforcement officials, targeted a network that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine across multiple locations.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Department of Justice, uncovered a sprawling network of drug traffickers operating in Imperial Valley and beyond. Search warrants were served at 25 locations in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Mexico, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of illegal drugs, firearms, and cash.
Among the items confiscated was a stockpile of assault rifles bound for Mexico, as well as ghost guns and Russian-made ammunition. The suspects, who belonged to various trafficking organizations, were part of an extensive network supplying
According to court documents, the organization was responsible for distributing over four kilograms of fentanyl, equivalent to two million potentially fatal doses, as well as more than 324 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The investigation also led to the arrest of a U.S. Border Patrol agent, Alexander Grindley, on allegations of methamphetamine trafficking. Eleven additional suspects remain at large.
The bust is seen as a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and its associates. In a statement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland praised the efforts of law enforcement officials, saying, “We will continue to be relentless in our fight to protect American communities from the cartels.”
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California emphasized the importance of public awareness, urging parents to talk to their kids about drug use and encouraging addicts to seek treatment. She also warned dealers that the Justice Department is coming for them next.
Source: KTLA
