Federal Operation Targets Drug Market in Los Angeles Park
On Wednesday, federal agents conducted a significant operation in a California park, specifically aimed at dismantling a well-known open-air drug market that has seen substantial trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
This initiative, referred to as Operation MacArthur Park Liberation, involved a cooperative effort between local and federal authorities, leading to the arrests of at least 18 individuals and the seizure of over $10 million in fentanyl, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
“We’re starting to reclaim MacArthur Park from those who misuse it,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Ezeiri. “Our goal is to restore this public space for the people of Los Angeles.” He emphasized the collaboration with law enforcement to execute multiple arrest and search warrants targeting those distributing drugs around the park.
MacArthur Park, which lies just west of downtown Los Angeles, has long been known as a hotspot for drug activity, despite being surrounded by residential and office buildings.
A federal complaint accusing 25 alleged drug distributors and possessors was filed on the same day as the operation, with 18 suspects taken into custody for drug-related charges.
Notable among those arrested was a Calabasas resident found with approximately 40 pounds of fentanyl. This operation is also tied to a crackdown on notorious gangs like the 18th Street Gang and MS-13, which exert influence within the park area, according to officials.
The federal complaint includes allegations against Maralie Moreno-Lopez, 31, and her boyfriend, Jackson Terfer, 28, of Los Angeles, suggesting they acted on behalf of the 18th Street Gang. They are believed to have delivered drugs directly from their residence to the Alvarado Corridor near MacArthur Park, aiming to conceal them in local stores for street-level distribution.
Further accusations suggest Yolanda Iriarte-Avila, 40, supplied the couple with methamphetamine, while Jesus Morales-Randell, 33, was identified as a street dealer in the area.
Over approximately six weeks, beginning in March, investigators gathered evidence detailing 27 distinct drug transactions involving fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around the park.
If found guilty, Moreno-Lopez, Tarfur, Iriarte-Avila, and Morales-Randell face a minimum of 20 years in prison, while others in custody may be sentenced to up to 10 years.
This operation was facilitated in partnership with the Los Angeles Drug Enforcement Agency’s Southern California Drug Task Force, which is a multi-agency effort led by the DEA within the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.
“Today’s operation is just one step in a broader effort to reduce the pain and despair affecting MacArthur Park and its surrounding communities,” noted Anthony Chrysansis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division. “While focused on drug enforcement, our ultimate aim is to restore safety and health to this area.”
