19 Charged with Involvement of Meth, Cocaine Trafficking Ring
San Diego- Federal Officials arrested at least 10 men and women on Wednesday and Thursday after investigators discovered their involvement in a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking ring in San Diego.
The arrest of the suspects came after a yearlong investigation was conducted by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Major Mexican Trafficker’s Strike Force, FBI, IRS, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the sheriff’s department of both San Diego and Los Angeles.
Together, the groups focused on long-term drug dealing cartels based in Tijuana and Guadalajara, who were trafficking drugs into the northern part of San Diego.
The arrested suspects include: Guadalupe Natalie Perez, 22, Leonardo Garcia-Gaytan, 26, Nancy Blancas-Pena, 26, Felipe Garcia-Gallegos, 27, Miguel Guiterrez-Marantes, 28, Rosalia Lourdes Nieves, 30, Manuel Marcial, 31, David Aguilar, 37, Alma Jaime, 38, Jose Isidro Rodriguez-Lara, 42, Sylvia Sanchez-Zarate, 47, and Alicia Reyna Marin, 49.
Federal officials believe the suspects to originate from Vista, San Marcos, Spring Valley, Oceanside, and Panorama City of California.
The remaining fugitives remain at large and include: Edson Solis-Valdovinos, 25, Hernan Sebastian Bernal, 26, Sylvia Lara, 29, Julio Cesar Rodriguez-Zarate, 38, Jose Juan Mancilla-Monje, 46, Jose Luis Lopez, 67, and Nathan Kahakulani Yasso, 68. The remaining fugitives all come from Vista.
The San Diego DEA Acting Special Agent in charge William Sherman said that this investigation brings the end of a particular local, large-scale drug ring.
“This organization was distributing multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine in our cities, and making a huge profit. Throughout the course of the investigation, DEA and its law enforcement partners seized large quantities of methamphetamine and arrested 13 people who will not be selling their product on our streets,” Sherman said.
If convicted, each suspect involved in what investigators call “Operation Crystal Haven” faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a maximum fine of $4 million.
Read More:
NBC San Diego- A Dozen Suspects Arrested in Meth Trafficking Ring
San Diego 6- Dozen Arrested for Allegedly Trafficking Meth in San Diego County
