Authorities have announced the apprehension of seventeen suspects allegedly involved in a drug trafficking operation accused of smuggling significant quantities of narcotics into the Los Angeles region. Following a meticulous two-year investigation dubbed Operation “Smoke Jumpers,” officials unveiled details of the syndicate’s elaborate modus operandi, which involved using semi-trucks to transport fire extinguishers packed with drugs concealed within scrap metal shipments across the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the illicit substances included fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. The operation yielded 13 seizures over the course of the investigation, uncovering staggering quantities of narcotics, including approximately 680,992 fentanyl pills, 3 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 17 kilograms of heroin, and 10,418 methamphetamine pills.
Law enforcement efforts resulted in the arrest of nine suspects between February 8th and 12th, identified as individuals hailing from various locations including Alhambra, Riverside, Fontana, Ontario, Denver, and Mexico. An additional suspect, Toniel Baez-Duarte, of Apple Valley, was already in state custody. However, seven more suspects are still at large and believed to be residing in Mexico.
The focal point of the investigation centered on Carin Trucking, a San Diego-based company alleged to have operated a fleet of at least six semi-trucks, regularly traversing the U.S.-Mexico border to facilitate the delivery of narcotics to the Los Angeles area.
The indictment levied against the suspects encompasses charges related to two narcotics conspiracies and 12 counts of drug possession, each carrying penalties ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment in federal facilities. Additionally, if convicted of money laundering conspiracy, the suspects could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for that charge alone.
In response to the arrests, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the defendants’ actions, emphasizing the grave consequences of their activities on public health and safety. Describing the defendants as part of a sophisticated network, Estrada pledged to vigorously pursue justice against international drug-trafficking organizations, reaffirming the commitment to combatting the scourge of illicit narcotics trafficking.