This is the third-busiest port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border, and likely the largest for smuggled narcotics. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Behind him was a 10-foot pyramid comprised of contraband. Traditionally, L.A. is the transportation hub, he said, noting that the city is north of many immigration checkpoints and is home to four airports, numerous freeways and countless package distribution centers. Mop the kitchen. If Leon-Garcias truck had been stopped here, instead, the case would have been far less remarkable. Postal Service and private vehicles to ship large quantities of cocaine and other narcotics to buyers across the country. Authorities said the Oct. 2 take, which involved two locations, in Moreno Valley and Perris, represents the largest domestic seizure of the narcotic in the agencys history. In the early-morning hours of August 19, 2020, as the rest of Santa Barbara slept, a platoon of law enforcement officers lay wide awake in the thick chaparral above Arroyo Quemada Beach. Like in Riverside, drug seizures along that stretch of border have gone up dramatically. The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County, officials said. Suspect arrested in Sexual Assault. Read more. The team, led by Detective Christopher MacAuley with the Sheriff's Office, included more than two dozen deputies accompanied by FBI and Homeland Security agents. "The total seized drugs have an estimated street value of $33 million.". A 20-year-old La Crosse man faces multiple criminal charges after a Dec. 17 traffic stop in La Crosse. This California farm kingdom holds a key, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles, New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater, Gina Lollobrigida, film star who conquered Italy, Hollywood and the world, dies at 95, Storm sets new L.A. rain records. RIVERSIDE - In what is believed to likely be the largest seizure of carfentanil in Riverside County, a Perris man and woman have been charged by the DA's Office with four drug-related felonies after a lengthy investigation by the Riverside Police Department. Homeland Security special agent who sexually assaulted two women, telling them he was ""above the law," was found guilty Wednesday of violating their civil rights, federal prosecutors said. Police say most of the suspects arrested have prior criminal records. A man was arrested on multiple charges during a drug bust in Columbus. The robot fired, and tin and copper flak perforated the pipe like buckshot. Updated: 10:31 PM PDT October 14, 2020. At Otay Mesa, agents said they confiscated 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder and roughly 35 pounds of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Chief Sergio Diaz made the announcement during a news conference at Riverside city hall, flanked by law enforcement personnel, community leaders, and elected officials. Agents seized more than 5,000 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. A total of 23 arrests were made late last week during a warrant sweep. Download the News Channel 3 app here. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. 1/15/2023 Moore, Ezekiel Age: 34 Sex: M Arrest Date\Time: 1/15/2023 4:48:00 AM Case Number: 13-004901 PARMELE ST Rockford, IL 61104 Arrest Location: Rockford, IL All you really need is a big garage and a garage door opener, Moore said. "This is enough dope to prove a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico," DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea said. The seizures by the two agencies are more than enough to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico, Timothy Shea, acting administrator of the DEA, said Wednesday at a warehouse in Montebello. "I can't bear to think about families coming here and shopping and knowing this is going on," Tanya Rivas, another shopper, said. Although this stash house was busted, no one knows how many remain undetected, small cogs in Riverside Countys gigantic drug smuggling machine. LA man receives 3 years in prison for $619,000 skimming scheme. A total of 12 suspects have been arrested, with several more still outstanding. Police listened as Beltran described how he got the meth in Mexico, then buried it at the abandoned house in Lake Elsinorefor safekeeping until it could be sold. For two months, Rohn and his partners at the DEA had been using wiretaps to chase a drug ring. Hailing from Temecula, she previously covered Riverside County and the Inland Empire and is now focused on Orange County. This is enough dope to prove a dose of meth for every man, women and child in the United States and Mexico, , DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea said. He earned his bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. Luke Money is a Metro reporter covering breaking news at the Los Angeles Times. His identity was not provided. The house sat on Pace Lane in Indio Hills, behind a chain-link fence and a locked gate, miles from all but a few neighbors. 5, 2020 at 11:29 AM PDT. Im proud of the CBP officers dedication to our mission; they continue to stop dangerous drugs from entering our communities.". "The Justice Department is committed to making our neighborhoods safer by aggressively disrupting drug cartel operations in the United States.". Straighten up the sofa. Heres a timeline, Crusading vet treats some of L.A.s most cherished residents: The pets of skid row, The Times podcast: How the California GOP lost its national sway, Veterans claim anti-vet bias in Metros choice of muralist for a new VA station, California faces catastrophic flood dangers and a need to invest billions in protection, Caregiver sentenced to life in prison for unspeakable sexual abuse of disabled children. INDIO, Calif. The black plastic pipe lay under the overpass, resting against the center median of Interstate 10, one of the nations busiest highways. But Riverside police are fighting to make sure the area doesn't become known for an area riddled with illegal drug sales. 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. Twenty-five duffel bags loaded with cocaine, heroin and meth were seized, according to the DEA. Breaking News Acting on information from the DEA, CBP officials recovered more than 3,000 pounds of meth at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego. "This is enough dope to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico," DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea said. San Diegos houseless residents deal with heavy rains, flooding, San Diego Unified launches new engagement website for students, Eagle delivers 2 eggs in California nest watched by web cam, Chula Vista Elementary District converts two campuses to community schools. All rights reserved, 'I Was There When': 1994 Northridge Quake, Authorities: 37 Pounds of Meth Found in Driver's Spare Tire, Second-Largest Border Meth Bust in History Announced, CBP Finds $3.9 Million Worth of Meth, Cocaine in Boulders at Tecate Crossing, Netflix Is Hiring a Flight Attendant for One of Its Private Jets and the Job Pays Up to $385,000, It's Just Heartbreaking': Orange County Public Defender Dies in Mexico, Amazon Set to Begin New Round of Layoffs Affecting Over 18,000 People. 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large-scale drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in San Diego's Otay Mesa area, allegedly involved in the transportation and delivery of large quantities of drugs. Polar bear kills woman, boy in remote Alaska village, Man gets 30 years in prison in road rage killing of teen Astros fan, Video shows toddler waving handgun outside apartment; man arrested. Fifteen years ago, men like Beltran would have been cooking meth, not smuggling it. Narcotics detectives with the Fontana Police Department spotted the exchange. Du kan endre valgene dine nr som helst ved g til personvernkontrollene dine. Just last month, authorities arrested another Moreno Valley truck driver, Ricardo Benitez-Serrano, a fugitive who had been caught hauling $2.9 million in suspected drug profits in 2013 and 305 pounds of cocaine in 2014. We dont see many of those anymore.. The DEA's bust was just one of two massive meth seizures by federal authorities in October. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Had they not been seized, the drugs would have infiltrated Los Angeles within a day, according to Bill Bodner, special agent in charge of the DEAs Los Angeles Division. Once smugglers pass Calexico, a majority follow one of two routes, DEA officials say. Oct. 14, 2020. Wiretaps are requiredto be last resorts for law enforcement, used only when surveillance, informants and other investigatory tools have failed. Local authorities charged a California man and woman Thursday in a massive drug bust that found more than 46 pounds of a lethal and potent synthetic opioid, multiple sources reported. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Four gang members have been arrested for the murder of an innocent man in the Riverside neighborhood of Casa-Blanca following a large-scale gang bust. #DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea, Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner & local law enforcement discussing the largest domestic methamphetamine seizure in #DEA history. We dont fish.. Operation Crystal Shield has resulted in 2,800 arrests over the last six months nationwide, Bodner said. Smugglers will try every way possible to try and get their product across the border; and because of the partnership between CBP, Homeland Security investigations and DEA, this significant seizure occurred and we stopped them, said Anne Maricich, acting CBP director of field operations in San Diego. "The defendants were able to smuggle the drugs across the border during COVID, when it was more difficult to do.". For all intents and purposes, its a proven drug dealer by the time we get up on their phones, Massino said. All rights reserved. According to the DEA, an investigation into transportation and supply of illegal drugs flowing into the country from south of the border focused on the Sinaloa cartel, which has been operating in the Otay Mesa area. The investigation led to search warrants being served at narcotics stash houses in the Riverside County cities of Moreno Valley and Perris, east of Los Angeles. The officer referred the driver, truck and shipment for a more intensive inspection, which is when the illicit contraband was discovered, according to the DEA. Officers served a warrant at a home in the . 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. Authorities said they found about 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin and some 650 pounds of methamphetamine in the garage of a residence in Moreno Valley. Later that day, Reyes husband returned to the house, driving a pickup truck. "Synthetic drugs like methamphetamine are highly addictive, dangerous and killing people at alarming rates," DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner said. There's more guns on the street than I've ever seen in my career, and there's thousands of people who should be incarcerated who aren't incarcerated right now," said Gonzalez. It was the quintessential pipe bomb, about a foot long and an inch-and-a-half wide, with caps on both ends. More than 1.5M positive COVID-19 cases since 2020. This massive seizure is testament of what law enforcement agencies can do when we combine forces prevent over $7 million worth of deadly drugs from entering our country, thus saving countless lives from addiction and overdose deaths, said DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery. A joint investigation by The Desert Sun and USA TODAY hasrevealed that narcotics investigations have transformed this region into the most wiretapped place in America. He says to hurry up and clean there because I think hes going to take visitors.. Andres Jesus Morales, 30, and Christine Ponce, 27, were charged with four drug-related felonies with the intent to sell a controlled substance, the Riverside . "Meth is pouring into the U.S. through our southern border, and it's destroying too many communities," Shea said. There seemed for a long time to be a rise of mom and pop meth labs in their homes, or out in a shack someplace, said Steve Harmon, the Riverside County Public Defender, who has practiced law here for nearly 40 years. Border Patrol officials said this summer that the quantity of meth and heroin theyre intercepting now is 10 times higher than it was a decade ago. "When you hear a story like this, where a guy is out for two hours and is slinging dope, it is somewhat demoralizing. A raid by federal and local authorities netted 12 arrests in the Riverside area, with authorities confiscating large amounts of weapons, cash and methamphetamine. Kathy Vara reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Officials interdicting bundles of meth, heroin and fentanyl on Friday said it was the second-largest meth bust in Customs and Border Protection history. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Downtown Riverside is known throughout Southern California for its iconic festival of lights during the holidays. (Credit: DEA), another seizure earlier this month in San Diego. Authorities say the suspects were attempting to sell hard drugs to the undercover officers, not marijuana. My guys are all cops, and they could tell it wasnt explosives, said Sgt. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Shea said the United States saw a 25% increase in meth overdoses last year alone and emphasized the drugs damaging effects on communities, which often see an accompanying uptick in violent crimes including robberies, assaults and murders. "The cartels are aware of law enforcement efforts at the border, so what they'll do is they'll flood the border with multiple vehicles coming through," said FBI agent Andrew Sharp. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Authorities specifically mentioned two incidents of alleged drug smuggling along the southern border. In the pickup, agents found the visitors. Twenty-nine pounds of heroin were hidden in a secret compartment. The Riverside County District Attorneys Office has pointed to this bust as an example of the importance of local wiretaps, but the case also shows how drug trafficking has changed in this region. The scope is enormous here, and then spreads through to everywhere, said a Coachella Valley DEA agent, who asked not to be identified to preserve his undercover work. Vi, Yahoo, er en del av Yahoo-familien av merkevarer. Alarmed, a construction worker called the cops, whosent a bomb squad. Bill Bodner, special agent in charge of the DEA's Los Angeles Field Division, said Los Angeles is a major transshipment hub for Mexican cartels trafficking illegal drugs across the southwest border. In April, Arkansas State Police found 275 poundsof meth worth an estimated $10 million hidden in a semi-truck on Interstate 40, about 10 miles east of Little Rock. Also seized were 893 pounds (405 kilograms) of cocaine and 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms) of heroin. "Drugs make people make bad decisions," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez. "This massive seizure likely saved lives and prevented the Sinaloa Cartel from doing business and profiting on the lives of people in our communities.". This black pipe, which shut down I-10 for about 30 minutes on Aug.18, was filled with a half-pound of methamphetamine, and had almost certainly fallen off an eastbound truck smuggling narcotics. 2023 www.desertsun.com. Other suspects are alleged to have then distributed the drugs to gang members across the Inland Empire. Fine white powder sprinkled out of the tiny holes. Another suspect allegedly sold drugs to undercover officers, just two hours after being released from jail on other charges. "Study after study shows that where there is meth addiction, there is also an uptick in violent crime, including robberies, assaults and murders.". (Renee Schiavone/Patch) RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA Authorities Wednesday arrested 16 defendants . Representatives of the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration attended the news conference. The arrests were announced during a news conference in Riverside Wednesday morning, where authorities said violent crime has risen dramatically during the pandemic. Police arrested 23 people in an operation designed to crack down on illegal drug sales in downtown Riverside. Each suspect was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 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In all, more than 150 pounds of meth were seized, in addition to more than $31,000 in cash. Over a three-year period that ended in September, the Riverside DEA Office, which also covers San Bernardino County, has seized about 6,500 pounds of meth and 770 pounds of heroin.

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