On Wednesday, federal agents conducted a raid at a well-known open-air drug market in Los Angeles, California, leading to the seizure of a significant amount of fentanyl from one of the arrested individuals’ homes.
“Today marks the beginning of reclaiming MacArthur Park from illegal activities and substance abuse, restoring this public space for the people of Los Angeles,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri in a public statement.
“We are collaborating with both federal and local law enforcement to carry out multiple arrests and search warrants aimed at those distributing drugs in and around the park.”
This initiative, officially named Operation MacArthur Park Liberation, was a collective effort by federal and local authorities, resulting in 18 arrests and the confiscation of fentanyl valued at over $10 million.
MacArthur Park, situated west of downtown Los Angeles, has a long-standing reputation for drug activity and trafficking.
As per a federal criminal complaint, a total of 25 individuals are linked to drug distribution and possession activities, with 18 already in custody.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA):
The charging affidavit claims that Maralee Moreno-Lopez, 31, and her boyfriend Jackson Turfer, 28, from the Westmont area of South Los Angeles, are generally connected with the 18th Street Gang, reportedly serving as key suppliers of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Alvarado Corridor and MacArthur Park.
Moreno-Lopez and Turfer would deliver drugs directly to the Alvarado Corridor near MacArthur Park, often concealing them in storefronts for distribution to street-level dealers. Their Westmont residence functioned as a stash house for the drugs before transport to MacArthur Park.
Law enforcement also tracked Yolanda Iriarte-Avila, 40, from Calabasas, identified as a supplier of methamphetamine to Moreno-Lopez through her boyfriend, Jesús Morales-Randell, 33, a local street dealer operating in the MacArthur Park area. Iriarte-Avila allegedly stored drugs in her home for later distribution.
“Today’s operation is a single step toward alleviating the suffering and despair affecting MacArthur Park, local businesses, and the surrounding community,” remarked Anthony Chrysansis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division. “While focused on combating drug-related issues, this effort also aims to restore safety and well-being, returning MacArthur Park to its community.”
