A federal grand jury in California indicted 10 men on charges of smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States from Mexico by stuffing them into fire extinguishers and hiding the drugs inside tons of scrap metal.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has identified 13 cases, including 680,992 fentanyl pills, 3 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 17 kilograms of heroin, and 10,418 methamphetamine-containing tablets, as a result of a two-year investigation dubbed Operation Smokejumper. announced that it had been seized.
The operation was carried out from February 8 to 12, during which nine defendants were arrested.
There are seven additional suspects that federal agents believe are in Mexico.
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Drug smugglers allegedly packed fentanyl and other drugs into fire extinguishers and loaded them with scrap metal into trucks from Mexico into the United States. (FBI Los Angeles)
The arrested defendants are:
- Oscar Ahumada Leyva, 43, from Mexico.
- Miguel Antonio Rabago Valenzuela, 42 years old, Mexico.
- Gustavo Rivero Rodriguez, 39, from Mexico.
- Carlos Espinoza (38) of the Alhambra Palace.
- Eric Roque Angeles, 39, of Fontana.
- David Sanchez Balderas, 26, of Denver.
- Fernando Salgado, 36, of Riverside.
- Rocio Guadalupe Acevedo Tonche, 32, Ontario.and
- Efren Quibrella Espinoza, 29 years old, from Cudahy
Federal agents believe seven other suspects currently at large are in Mexico.
The 15-count indictment, unsealed on February 8, charges the defendants with drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
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The FBI is searching for seven more fugitives charged with drug smuggling-related charges. (FBI Los Angeles)
Five of the six suspects taken into custody in the Los Angeles and Inland Empire areas have pleaded guilty and been arraigned. They are scheduled to go to trial on April 2nd.
Angeles is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, and Báez-Duarte, 33, was already in state custody.
Estrada’s office said in a press release that the investigation focused on San Diego-based Karin Trucking, which is owned by Leyva. The company operated at least six semi-trucks that entered the United States from Mexico and delivered suspected drugs to the Los Angeles area.
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According to a search warrant for Espinoza’s cellphone, the drugs were hidden inside a fire extinguisher disguised as scrap metal, which was later removed to look like a regular fire extinguisher.
“Detectives observed multiple drug transactions involving truck drivers and their semi-trucks,” according to an affidavit supporting the search warrant. “Truck drivers enter the U.S. from Mexico and cross the border, usually carrying large amounts of scrap metal, some of which are hidden scrap metal fire extinguishers containing drugs. will be heading to Los Angeles to meet with the courier and pick up the drug-filled fire extinguishers to distribute.
If convicted, the two counts of drug conspiracy and 12 counts of drug possession offenses carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The 15th money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The FBI led the investigation, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Southgate Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and several other federal, state, and local agencies.
