A bold outdoor crack market, thought to be operated by the West Coast Crips and located a mere 2.4 miles from San Diego’s Petco Park, has been dismantled following the indictment of 30 suspected gang members and their associates in a sweeping drug operation.
A recently unsealed indictment claims that the gang transformed the corner of 2900 Imperial Ave. into a bustling daytime drug hub, with customers queuing with cash to purchase crack cocaine, while wholesalers supplied local street vendors.
According to prosecutors, this operation focused on distributing cocaine bases across various neighborhoods, including East Village, downtown, Logan Heights, and Sherman Heights in San Diego.
Authorities suggest that the notorious drug corner also became a focal point for gang-related activity and violence.
The investigation, which started in 2024, centered around suspected members of the West Coast Crips, who were believed to be running a gang-controlled drug market and engaging in violent behaviors nearby.
Documents from the court indicate that the gang members celebrate an annual “appointed day” around March 30 to highlight their influence in the area beyond the 30th Street corridor.
Estimates suggest the operation was moving roughly 20 pounds of cocaine weekly in 2025, valued at around $550,000 on the streets, with many customers frequently buying crack from gang members operating in the area.
Early Wednesday morning, a coordinated effort involving over 350 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers led to the execution of 21 search warrants throughout San Diego, aimed at dismantling the drug trafficking network linked to the West Coast Crips.
By Wednesday afternoon, 28 of the 30 accused individuals had been arrested; however, two remained at large.
Throughout the yearlong investigation, authorities closely monitored the area, noting regular daily transactions of crack cocaine.
Wiretapped conversations highlighted co-conspirators hurriedly restocking supplies after their products sold out repeatedly. The entire operation served both as a retail market and a wholesale distribution hub, with crack cocaine distributed even near Petco Park.
This investigation culminated in the seizure of over 11 pounds of cocaine, upwards of $14,000 in cash, two handguns, and a currency counting machine.
Unfortunately, this market also became a stage for gun violence. Court records reveal an incident on January 9, where a vehicle halted outside the market, and its occupants fired into a crowd, injuring at least two individuals before speeding away.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon stated, “With these 30 indictments, the message is clear: San Diego is a paradise, but it is not a gangster’s paradise.”
Many of those indicted have prior felony convictions related to drug offenses, and some were under supervision when this conspiracy was uncovered. Among those charged is Lynelle Baker, allegedly the ringleader, who was previously convicted of first-degree murder in 1994 and paroled in 2021.
Four other defendants have serious federal drug felony convictions, while three additional individuals also face federal charges. All defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and its base form, which, if convicted, could lead to a minimum of 10 years in federal prison or a maximum of life behind bars, along with hefty fines.
