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. From April to August 2020, Gomez and Rodriguez allegedly purchased methamphetamine from suppliers in Mexico as well as in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, according to investigators. And finally, back in 2010, a DEA-led task force caught a semi-truck on Interstate-10, headed from the border to a warehouse in either Riverside County or San Bernardino County. "It's just a risk they take. / KCAL News. 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. In the 80s and 90s, Riverside County was a hotbed for meth manufacturing, and meth labs flourished here, taking advantage of the countys empty spaces to hide the foul smell of urine and smoke produced by mixing chemicals. Federal authorities on Wednesday showed off results of Southern California raids early this month that led to the biggest domestic seizure of methamphetamine in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration history. More than 40,000 plants are spread out. Between the two homes, detectives seized 25 duffle bags of drugs containing 2,200 pounds of meth, 460 kilograms of cocaine and six kilograms of heroin. 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. "This massive seizure likely saved lives and prevented the Sinaloa Cartel from doing business and profiting on the lives of people in our communities.". Kathy Vara reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. USA TODAY reporter Brad Heath can be reached at bheath@usatoday.com or on Twitter @bradheath. "I can't bear to think about families coming here and shopping and knowing this is going on," Tanya Rivas, another shopper, said. Privacy advocates described the large number of Riverside County taps as a "red flag," but the DEA said the taps arereasonable considering the breadth and complexity of drug trafficking in this region. The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County, officials said. Her husband ran out the back door, vanishing into the desert. "The more dope we can take off the street, the safer a community it is for us.". And, just this month, they started conducting surveillance on a drug courier who they believed was managing a stash house in an undisclosed neighborhood in Moreno Valley. It looks just like someone coming home from work.. Last year, four Coachella men were indicted as part of a conspiracy to move millions in Sinaloa drug profits from Canada to Mexico. The massive methamphetamine seizure was part of Operation Crystal Shield, a nationwide effort the DEA launched in February. The DEA's big bust came just a week before another huge meth seizure. Thats nearly one fourth as much meth, and one tenth as much heroin, as was seized by the entire DEA nationwide from 2012 to 2014. Originally from Miami, she holds a masters degree in journalism from USC. The Riverside office also seized nearly $47 million in cash, vehicles and guns during that three-year span. They didnt see it, they didnt think about it and it probably didnt have any effect on their lives at all, until it exploded., Our dope pipeline is kind of like that.. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 11/22/2022 1:58 PM. That pipeline begins south of the border, in a region of Mexico controlled by the Sinaloa cartel. But danger still brews below the surface. 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. We dont see many of those anymore.. A 20-year-old La Crosse man faces multiple criminal charges after a Dec. 17 traffic stop in La Crosse. The end result is an invisible network, valued in the billions of dollars, that weaves through the county, hidden within the same shipping and trucking lanes that carry agriculture and commercial goods from Mexico. Narcotics detectives with the Fontana Police Department spotted the exchange. Over the last month and a half, the team, which began . My guys are all cops, and they could tell it wasnt explosives, said Sgt. Like in Riverside, drug seizures along that stretch of border have gone up dramatically. Severe Weather First, they had caught a street-level dealer in Temecula with 33 grams. 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. They either head north on Highway 86, into the eastern portions of the Coachella Valley, or head west to the I-15, which runs north towards Temecula, Corona and Riverside. ", 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. In total, CBP officers found approximately 3,014 pounds of methamphetamine, 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder and almost 37 pounds of fentanyl pills, worth an estimated $7.2 million. Bob Epps, the bomb squad supervisor. News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Thats why traffickers prefer to get the drugs here.. Straighten up the sofa. This is real proof of a job well done.. Empty the trash in the bathroom. They. "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. "The defendants were able to smuggle the drugs across the border during COVID, when it was more difficult to do.". "Study after study shows that where there is meth addiction, there is also an uptick in violent crime, including robberies, assaults and murders.". Twenty-five duffel bags loaded with cocaine, heroin and meth were seized, according to the DEA. They say the operation was a direct result of complaints made by city residents and business owners, not just in the downtown area, but the Magnolia Center and La Sierra. Authorities said the Oct. 2 take,. 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. 2023 www.desertsun.com. Carfentanil . 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. Finn ut mer om hvordan vi bruker informasjonen din i retningslinjene for personvern og retningslinjene for informasjonskapsler. NBC Universal, Inc. A record meth bust part of a national operation was announced Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. The pipeline quietly moved gas towardSan Francisco for more than 50 years, until 2010, when a rupture sent a fireball spewing skyward, destroying three dozen homes. The recently seized drugs stemmed from the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels in Mexico, Shea said. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Operation Crystal Shield is a nationwide effort involving 70 to 80 investigators in nine cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta. "Meth, heroin, cocaine," said city councilman Mike Gardner. From the Sinaloa territory, drugs enter the country in Calexico, a border town in Imperial County. (Renee Schiavone/Patch) RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA Authorities Wednesday arrested 16 defendants . 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. . 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. They probably didnt even know there was a pipeline beneath their feet, Moore said. Morning Forecast Alarmed, a construction worker called the cops, whosent a bomb squad. They knew then it was probably dope.. 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 significant seizures thwarted drug traffickers' plans to profit from these dangerous drugs that cause incredible harm to our communities," Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbitt said. Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in SD Otay-Mesa area, allegedly involved in the transportation and delivery of large quantities of drugs. "The bulk shipments of drugs are usually broken down into smaller quantities and transported to other states or distributed to local dealers.". 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. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. His identity was not provided. 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin & 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine. Industrial-sized labs moved to Mexico, where American laws are meaningless, and cartels now smuggle their product to their customer base in the U.S. Superficially,the shift has made Riverside County safer. The drugs were intended for distribution in Southern California, including Los Angeles, according to DEA officials, who displayed the haul at the agencys warehouse in an undisclosed location in Los Angeles County. More than 70 investigators worked the two California cases, which included extensive fieldwork and surveillance. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. Inside was a mountain of drugs 2,650 pounds of cocaine, 66 poundsof heroin and 19 tons of marijuana, stacked on pallets. But officials were also careful to point out that the targets of the seizures were cartels and drug dealers, not addicts. 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. "Drugs make people make bad decisions," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez. Reyes surrendered. Drug profits, often in bales of cash, follow the same path back to Mexico. 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. 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. 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. We'll send you the top local news stories every morning at 8 a.m. By clicking subscribe, you agree to share your email address with Times of San Diego to receive our free newsletter and breaking news alerts. More than 1.5M positive COVID-19 cases since 2020. "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. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. In another seizure earlier this month in San Diego, customs and border patrol agents confiscated 3,000 pounds of meth, 29 kilograms of heroin and 29 kilograms of fentanyl-laced powder and pills. But Riverside police are fighting to make sure the area doesn't become known for an area riddled with illegal drug sales. The DEA said it was not revealing the locations of the stash houses because detectives were still working on making arrests. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Someone who's responsible for this quantity of drugs is someone who is very, very trusted by the cartel," Bill Bodner, the special agent in charge of the Los Angeles DEA, said. Now beyond the reach of the Border Patrol, the drugs settle into stash houses, which masquerade as family homes and legitimate businesses in the innocuous suburbs. Despite the significant number of arrests, they said the massive size of these criminal drug rings is discouraging. The biggest haul was in Perris, where DEA agents and investigators from several . A total of 23 arrests . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Officials discover 3,000 pounds of meth at Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Want to solve climate change? A raid by federal and local authorities netted 12 arrests in the Riverside area, with authorities confiscating large amounts of weapons, cash and methamphetamine. Over a three-year period that ended in September, the Riverside DEA Office, which also covers San Bernardino County, has seized about 6,500 poundsof meth and 770 poundsof heroin. And these figures still don't account for all the drugs and cash seized in Riverside County. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. All you really need is a big garage and a garage door opener, Moore said. At the end of the month, a stakeout of the property led to federal agents and police officers arresting a man who was carrying heavy boxes out of the house and placing them in a vehicle, according to the DEA. 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. In all, more than 150 pounds of meth were seized, in addition to more than $31,000 in cash. Tuesday, the Riverside police department announced the results of a three-month narcotics operation, in which undercover officers would buy illegal drugs from drug dealers. DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea and other law enforcement officials displayed theevidence during a press conference at a DEA warehouse in Montebello. And some of it, concealed inside duffle bags, was apparently passed between cars in public including at a Sam's Club parking lot in Moreno Valley. Convicted Felons Arrested with a Loaded Firearm and Narcotics. The DEA says ruralareas are ideal for stash houses because they are difficult to monitor, but other experts said surroundings dont really matter. Some suspects were already in custody on other charges. Agents and drug dogs sweep the traffic, hunting for hidden narcotics, but there are far too many travelers to search them all. 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. "The total seized drugs have an estimated street value of $33 million.". Troopers championed the case as the biggest meth bust in the history of Arkansas, but the truck had come from Riverside County. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Although this stash house was busted, no one knows how many remain undetected, small cogs in Riverside Countys gigantic drug smuggling machine. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) A pyramid of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin standing 10 feet tall with an estimated street value of $18.5 million was confiscated during two recent drug trafficking investigations in the Inland Empire representing the largest Drug Enforcement Agency meth bust in U.S. history. Sheriff's Administration Posted on: January 10, 2023 Homicide Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Richard Carroll File # WI230090039 Details: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday: roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County. MORENO VALLEY, CA Federal agents on Wednesday announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust by Drug Enforcement Agency investigators in domestic U.S. history, displaying a 10-foot-high pile of the drug weighing more than 3 tons seized at stash houses in Riverside County. Once smugglers pass Calexico, a majority follow one of two routes, DEA officials say. 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. Postal Service and private vehicles to ship large quantities of cocaine and other narcotics to buyers across the country. 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. "Synthetic drugs like methamphetamine are highly addictive, dangerous and killing people at alarming rates," DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner said. The biggest haul was in Perris, where DEA agents and investigators from several municipal police departments last week confiscated 2,224 pounds of meth, 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin, according to Shea. A furry hero sniffs out one of the largest drug busts in Fontana. Even if Sinaloas dont move the drugs themselves, they tax any other cartel that ships narcotics through their territory, like a smuggling tollbooth. PublishedOctober 14, 2020 at 10:51 AM PDT. "We continue to work with our state and local partners to attack drug trafficking at all levels, and this seizure sends a clear message that we mean business.". The Drug Enforcement Administration holds a news conference in Montebello, Calif., to announce the largest domestic meth seizure in the agency's history. "Meth is pouring into the U.S. through our southern border, and it's destroying too many communities," Shea said. 9/21/2022 8:50 PM. 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 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. This is a tough time for everybody, and some people turn to drugs to deal with that, he said, adding that many in-house-treatment options have been curtailed due to the coronavirus. A total of 23 arrests were made late last week during a warrant sweep. Vi, Yahoo, er en del av Yahoo-familien av merkevarer. Breaking News Jeff Moore, the former narcotics prosecutor, compared the countys drug trafficking network to the San Bruno natural gas pipeline. The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2 and included 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin and 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine. Suspect arrested in Sexual Assault. LA man receives 3 years in prison for $619,000 skimming scheme. 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 of more than 2,200 . 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 of more than 2,200 pounds seized at stash houses in Riverside County, along with cocaine and heroin. As trafficking has expandedin Riverside County, so have efforts to stop it. Dylan Bingham was charged Jan. 9 in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of . Authorities specifically mentioned two incidents of alleged drug smuggling along the southern border. 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 agency's history. Federal authorities on Wednesday showed off results of Southern California raids. The entire operation lasted nearly two years. Massino, the DEA spokesman, insisted that everyday citizens would almost never have their conversations intercepted. RIVERSIDE, California (AP) A former U.S. "The drugs that will kill you.". Authorities said it was the second-largest meth bust ever for Customs and Border Protection. Over the past three years, the Riverside Office has seen a significant rise in meth and heroin trafficking, according to seizure statistics provided to The Desert Sun. All rights reserved. Cocaine and meth were being distributed throughout the region from the location, which investigators identified in September, according to the DEA. The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County, officials said. The truck driver, a 47year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over the custody of the joint investigative team from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Meth is an especially vicious drug, he said. Instead, there isa low-profile,commercialized pipeline, where violence would only cut into high profits, DEA officials say. A team of agents cut the fence and stormed the home, guns drawn. 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. He earned his bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. January 10, 2023 at 5:40 p.m. After the encounter at the Sam's Club parking lot, the officers got search warrants for two suspected stash houses one in Moreno Valley and the other in Perris. 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 (1,367.1 kilograms) of methamphetamine, the agency said Sunday. The entrance to a drug tunnel discovered by federal authorities in Otay Mesa, March 30, 2020. Luke Money is a Metro reporter covering breaking news at the Los Angeles Times. "The Justice Department is committed to making our neighborhoods safer by aggressively disrupting drug cartel operations in the United States.". The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2, 2020 and included 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin, and 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine. Keep up with all the latest news, arts and culture, and TV highlights from KPBS. All rights reserved. Narcotics seized during a bust Friday in Otay Mesa. We will continue to work together to disrupt drug trafficking organizations at every opportunity we are given.. Operation Crystal Shield has resulted in 2,800 arrests over the last six months nationwide, Bodner said. By Scott Schwebke. Please reload the page and try again. Man Accused Of Dumping Dog At Riverside County Cell Tower Arrested, Fill Up And Get A Fatburger To Go: Beyond Food Mart Coming To Beaumont, Big Bear Bald Eagles Lay First Egg of 2023. Coronavirus Updates, 2023, Gulf-California Broadcast Company Palm Springs, CA USA, Download the News Channel 3 News app here. Absent from these totals are countless seizures made by Border Patrol, local police and DEA agents from Los Angeles, San Diego and the East Coast, which routinely tracethe source of their drugs back to Riverside County. The statistics are not perfectly comparable because the Riverside seizure totals were provided only by fiscal year and national totals were provided only by calendar year. Be the first to know when news breaks in Coachella Valley. Another blast is on the way. 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. They are the number-one threat, Stinnett said. "These two seizures are more than enough to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico," Timothy Shea, DEA acting administrator, said. Federal agents announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust in U.S. history Wednesday . Meth seizures rose from 1,567pounds in fiscal year 2013 to 2,546 pounds in fiscal year 2015, and heroin rose from 150 poundsto 395pounds in the same timeframe. INDIO, Calif. The black plastic pipe lay under the overpass, resting against the center median of Interstate 10, one of the nations busiest highways. Oct. 14, 2020. Each suspect was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. We dont fish.. March 17, 2022 Trevor Montgomery. The arrests were announced during a news conference in Riverside Wednesday morning, where authorities said violent crime has risen dramatically during the pandemic. However, even raw numbers reveal Riverside County as a centerpiece in U.S. drug trafficking, rivaling the nations largest cities. Im proud of the CBP officers dedication to our mission; they continue to stop dangerous drugs from entering our communities.". He says to hurry up and clean there because I think hes going to take visitors.. Since June, couriers and a stash house for the drugs were identified through ongoing surveillance, much of it conducted by Fontana Police Department personnel, authorities said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday: roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Two duffel bags replete with narcotics allegedly changed hands. Police say all the suspects are now facing felony charges. How To Sign Up, Name That Species: What In The World Is This Strange Creature? City News Service contributed to this report. 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. We are almost like the Costco warehouse of narcotics dealers, shipping this poison across the country, said Frank Pepper, assistant special agent in charge of the Riverside DEA Office. Authorities say the suspects were attempting to sell hard drugs to the undercover officers, not marijuana. Read more. 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. Riverside County wiretaps have increased eight-fold since 2010, and now outnumber any other county or federal district by more than three to one. Another suspect allegedly sold drugs to undercover officers, just two hours after being released from jail on other charges. Gone is the risk of meth lab explosions and violence between rival cooks and dealers. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Downtown Riverside is known throughout Southern California for its iconic festival of lights during the holidays. The narcotics were all packed away in approximately 25 duffle bags. In 2014, the county had 624 wiretaps, intercepting more than 2 million calls, texts and other communications involving more than 44,000 people. "That's what's scary.". He pulled into the garage, then closed the door behind him. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- An early morning raid by federal and local authorities netted 12 arrests in the Riverside area on Wednesday, with authorities confiscating large amounts of weapons, cash and methamphetamine. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Officials say the change was spurred by lawmakers, in Sacramento and Washington D.C., who created aggressive laws restricting access to the chemicals used to make meth, commonly called precursors. Withoutingredients, small-scale meth labs became unfeasible. In total, 1088. Operation Crystal Shield has been a nationwide effort involving 70 to 80 investigators in multiple cities, including Perris, Fontana, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta. The amounts we are seeing are unfortunately on the rise, but we're also seizing more, getting more of this poison off the streets.. 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. 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.

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