With fentanyl in an estimated 40 percent of street drugs, its not a matter of if but when someone you know and love dies from fentanyl, Spitzer said Wednesday. Both vehicles allegedly contained about 148 bundles of a material that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the statement. The drug is often mixed with cocaine and methamphetamine, and many victims do not know they are ingesting fentanyl. But crackdowns off Florida have pushed major importation routes westward, and the Colombian cartels now subcontract some of the smuggling duty to Mexican middlemen. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The cocaine, believed destined for Los Angeles, was 90 percent pure and of Colombian origin, said Ted Hunter, special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement . The fate of NorCal Transportation remains unknown for now, but Cabrera hopes it is shut down. Federal officials make meth bust likely largest in U.S. history at Edgar Alfonso Lamas, 36, and Carlos Raygozaparedes, 53, were arrested March 17 after Buena Park police officers recovered 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills from inside a minivan, the Orange County district attorneys office announced Wednesday. This seizure should put to rest any further speculation that Los Angeles is, in fact, the major pathway for cocaine entering the country, Ralph Lochridge, a local DEA spokesman, said. More than 200 locations were served with search warrants. Officials say they believe international cartels are behind the illegal large-scale marijuana farms. But over the last three weeks, they noticed the cartels really starting to make an increased effort to get drugs across the border. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. CULVER CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities made one of the largest drug busts in Los Angeles County history recently, seizing meth and cocaine with a street value of nearly $60 million, officials say. Last year, officials seized more than 3 million fentanyl pills in Los . Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The men were charged with importation and distribution of narcotics, the Sun said. or redistributed. Colombian drug cartels used to control cocaine shipments from start to finish, employing their own operatives to move the drug from processing plants in the Colombian jungle across the Caribbean and then into the United States. Its more like powder on the football field.. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial. 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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. NORCO, Calif. (KABC) -- More than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine were found in a massive drug bust in Norco last month, making it the largest seizure of meth for. One million fentanyl pills seized - largest bust of its kind in Market data provided by Factset. 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July 9, 2021 / 10:14 AM Hayley Smith covers breaking news in California with a focus on wildfires, drought and climate change. They seemed to be making an awful lot of money. appreciated. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reach her at tori.powell@viacomcbs.com, First published on July 7, 2021 / 8:12 PM. Large quantities of the drug have been discovered in trucks that entered the country through the Otay Mesa commercial point of entry before. Authorities made one of the largest methamphetamine busts ever in San Diego County, seizing more than 5,000 pounds of the drug and arresting four Tijuana . Download for iOS or Android. This is the cartels. One of the trailers was still parked by the warehouse door on Friday. In November, Spitzer warned drug dealers and distributors in the county that they could be charged with murder if their drug activities result in someones death. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Los Angeles, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, At least 5 people shot near San Pedro beach, Safety concerns and weather conditions hamper San Bernardino County relief efforts, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company. Lochridge said the suspects, who were not identified, will remain in federal custody over the weekend and probably will be arraigned Monday on state smuggling charges. Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Hazell said that after the informant called authorities Wednesday, the DEA, the Los Angeles Police Department and an interagency task force that includes representatives of the Treasury Department, the U.S. Customs Service and the Arcadia, Bell, Huntington Park and Maywood police departments, began surveillance of the warehouse. Marijuana Worth $1.2B Seized in Huge Drug Bust in Los Angeles - Newsweek ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- In what Alameda County Sheriff's Office is calling the largest pot bust in Bay Area history, more than 37 tons of plants, tens of millions of dollars in. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the impacts of illegal marijuana cultivation by cartels include water theft, human trafficking, pollution and threats to safety and security. One of the largest drug busts in Monterey County, California history was pulled off when nearly $2 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by Salinas police and federal agents, as. 6:23 AM EDT, Sat July 9, 2022. CALIFORNIA, USA Federal agents announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust in U.S. history Wednesday, displaying a 10-foot high pile of the confiscated drug representing a haul . The first man returned to the warehouse, but officers said they stopped the car and arrested the second man, who gave his name, sarcastically, as Ronald Reagan.. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department carried out the largest marijuana bust in its history, after seizing more than 33,000 pounds of the drug with a street value of almost $1.2 billion. The Medellin cartel has been blamed for a recent wave of violence against officials in Colombia. published to the Salinas Police Department Facebook page, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Did you encounter any technical issues? California Drug Bust Found Enough Opioids To 'Kill More Than 50 Million Another was arrested at about the same time at the Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All Rights Reserved. 18 Biggest Drug Busts In U.S. History - Yahoo! Sign up for FOX 11s Fast 5 newsletter. This may be the biggest meth bust in American. Drug bust: $33 million worth of meth found in historic DEA Los Angeles Operation Crystal Shield is a nationwide effort involving 70 to 80 investigators in nine cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta. A Warner Bros. / CBS News. Five men at the scene of the raid were taken into department custody who identified themselves as Mexican nationals who just arrived in the U.S. within the last month. All rights reserved. Charles P. Gutensohn, chief of the Drug Enforcement Administrations cocaine investigations section in Washington, said Friday that the Sylmar drug bust appeared to have uncovered a major hand-off point used by Mexican smugglers to deliver cocaine to Colombian distributors, whose networks extend across the United States. The article reported that synthetic opioids are the most common substances involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States. ET: This story has been updated with statements from Salinas Police Departmen press information officer Miguel Cabrera and Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni. Record Drug Bust in Southern California Is Largest in US | NBCLA DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea and other law enforcement officials displayed theevidence during a press conference at a DEA warehouse in Montebello. Zienter said the drugs apparently entered the United States at El Paso, Tex., probably in hidden compartments in two tractor-trailer rigs the ring was believed to have been using. Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that usually takes the form of a powder. The drugs were intended for distribution in Southern California, including Los Angeles, according to DEA officials, who displayed the haul at the agency's warehouse in an undisclosed location in Los Angeles County. July 11, 2022 / 9:03 AM Investigators saw someone carry out three boxes from the home and put them in a vehicle, according to authorities. The search at the Sherman Oaks apartment turned up little, but Dist. On Oct. 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a truck crossing from Mexico into the United States at San Diego's Otay Mesa and found 3,014 pounds of methamphetamine, the agency said Sunday.. More than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine were found in a massive drug bust in Norco last month, making it the largest seizure of meth for the DEA's Los Angeles Division. Authorities seize over 400 pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin in toolboxes at California border crossing. In what was described as the largest narcotics haul ever, federal agents seized almost 20 tons of cocaine--worth up to $6 billion on the street--at a San Fernando Valley warehouse, officials said Friday. "Study after study shows that where there is meth addiction, there is also an uptick in violent crime, including robberies, assaults and murders.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The San Diego Union-Tribune OTAY MESA, Calif. Federal authorities made what they called likely the largest methamphetamine bust in United States history, finding more than 5,528 pounds of the. Read the original article below and watch our original report from . While California legalized therecreational use of marijuana in 2018, illegal grows of the crop have been on the rise in the state. He said the arrest went according to plan and no injuries were sustained by officers or alleged suspects. Operation Sudden Fall - Wikipedia The L.A. plantations also hog water from local alfalfa, carrot, and potato farmers. The post stated that there was specific intent to distribute the drugs between Yuma, Arizona and Salinas, California. The operation found that NorCal Transportation was directly connected to the Sinaloa Cartel. in more than a decade, authorities say Photos supplied by Orange County district attorney's office showing the 821 pounds of. Kathy Vara reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Were going to reintroduce this law and order and make sure we drive these people out of business and give this community back to the residents.". Saying they feared a possible attempt by drug traffickers to recover their contraband by force, Los Angeles police dispatched a SWAT team to the warehouse to provide extra security after the raids. DEA announces biggest meth bust in U.S. history in Southern California A police dog kneels in front of numerous brown bags allegedly containing methamphetamine in San Diego County, California. A tip from an informant led to a record drug bust. A furry hero sniffs out one of the largest drug busts in Fontana. In the last two months alone, there have been at least seven confirmed mass overdose events tied to fentanyl across the U.S. resulting in 58 overdoses and 29 deaths, the agency said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. HARRIS MEETS WITH MEXICAN PRESIDENT AMID CRITICISM OVER MIGRANT REMARKS, LACK OF BORDER VISIT. "This record-breaking bust is the largest seizure of fentanyl pills DEA has made in California," the news release said. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, We have teamed up with the @usarmy @deahq @vcsheriff @kernsheriff @seblasd to eradicate these illegal Marijuana groves. Villanueva revealed to Fox News that these locations are hot spots for criminal behavior with reports of cartel members threatening residents with firearms. The Los Angeles-area bust - an estimated $15 million to $20 million in street value - came just days after Mexican authorities seized more than a half a ton of fentanyl in the state of Sinaloa.. This is not just powder on the table, said Donald Hamilton, a DEA spokesman in Washington. Moving swiftly, the investigative team obtained search warrants for the warehouse and for a luxurious penthouse apartment in the 4700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, but by the time the officers arrived at each location, all the occupants were gone. These middlemen are responsible for moving drugs through Central America and over the Southwest border into the United States. The truck also contained 64 pounds (29 kilograms) of heroin, 29 pounds (13.1 kilograms) of fentanyl powder and almost 37 pounds (16.7 kilograms) of fentanyl pills, the agency said. The search resulted in the seizure of 66 kilograms of cocaine and 3,552 pounds of meth from numerous boxes found the home's garage, the DEA said. Hazell said the surveillance team obtained a warrant and searched the car, finding 20 kilograms of cocaine in the trunk. Though it is typically used to treat severe pain, it is also used recreationally. The report also noted that officers seized $90,000 in cash and cashier's checks, two bank accounts and one tractor-trailer belonging to NorCal Transportation. The Sylmar haul--weighing about a much as the trash in two fully laden Department of Sanitation trucks--was roughly four times the total amount of cocaine seized throughout Los Angeles in all of 1988. "This monumental seizure represents another win against drug cartels that fuel addiction in the United States," said Shelly S. Howe, DEA Special Agent in Charge, in a statement issued with the U.S. Attorney's press release. In pure form, the tonnage would hold a retail value of about $2 billion, but since cocaine is usually adulterated to about one-third strength, law enforcement officials estimated the street value at $6 billion. We are very very close to driving down the freeway and seeing bodies hanging from the overpasses. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department documented the biggest drug bust in its history on Tuesday and officials expect Mexican cartels are to blame. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Best coffee city in the world? Just north of L.A. in Antelope Valley, California, officials tracked down, identified and destroyed 70 to 80 outhouses filled with illegal marijuana plots in the open desert. The department brought in massive bulldozers to raid the scene, completely leveling the illegal grows and there are reportedly hundreds more to tackle. Australian cops announce $1B cocaine seizure, country's biggest bust ever The DEA's big bust came just a week before another huge meth seizure. Cabrera said there is still information that is being processed. If convicted, such charges carry substantial maximum penalties that include a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison along with a $10 million fine. That seizure carried an estimated street value of $2.56 million, CBP said. At a small office at the front of the building, agents found records indicating that the drugs had come from the infamous Medellin and Cali cartels in Colombia. "We are not talking about mom and pop people selling marijuana that they grew in their backyard. Ira Reiner said that when the officers entered the warehouse in Sylmar and shined their flashlights about the room, they couldnt believe their eyes.. Also seized were 893 pounds (405 kilograms) of cocaine and 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms) of heroin. According to a post published to the Salinas Police Department Facebook page on September 16, the department's investigations unit worked with the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Salinas Violence Suppression Task Force and the Homeland Security Investigations Monterey Office.