Suspect arrested in Sexual Assault. "The more dope we can take off the street, the safer a community it is for us.". 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. 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. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Inside was a mountain of drugs 2,650 pounds of cocaine, 66 poundsof heroin and 19 tons of marijuana, stacked on pallets. 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. The DEA's big bust came just a week before another huge meth seizure. 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. 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. A furry hero sniffs out one of the largest drug busts in Fontana. Each suspect was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. pic.twitter.com/gdeO80nGNK. 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. 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Published: Jun. LOS ANGELES - Authorities this morning arrested 16 defendants linked to an Inland Empire-based drug trafficking ring that used the U.S. From the Sinaloa territory, drugs enter the country in Calexico, a border town in Imperial County. 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. The biggest haul was in Perris, where DEA agents and investigators from several . Coronavirus Updates, 2023, Gulf-California Broadcast Company Palm Springs, CA USA, Download the News Channel 3 News app here. 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. 9/21/2022 8:50 PM. "Study after study shows that where there is meth addiction, there is also an uptick in violent crime including robberies, assaults and murders.". "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. All rights reserved. The entrance to a drug tunnel discovered by federal authorities in Otay Mesa, March 30, 2020. Contests & Promotions More than 1.5M positive COVID-19 cases since 2020. We dont fish.. HOPEWELL, Va. (WWBT) - Hopewell police arrested two people during an early morning drug bust. He pulled into the garage, then closed the door behind him. 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. Download the News Channel 3 app here. Like in Riverside, drug seizures along that stretch of border have gone up dramatically. 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. Fine white powder sprinkled out of the tiny holes. The 2,224 pounds (1,008.7 kilograms) of methamphetamine was seized Oct. 2 during an investigation of a drug-trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa cartel, the DEA said in a statement. The drugs are alleged to have been stored in hidden compartments in their vehicles. However, another federal agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, netted an even bigger amount of meth the following week. Informasjon om enheten din og Internett-tilkoblingen, blant annet IP-adressen, Surfe- og skeaktivitet ved bruk av Yahoos nettsteder og apper. Diaz says it illustrates frustrations he has with other aspects of the criminal justice system. 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. 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. On Jan. 10, 2006, a DEA wiretap intercepted a call to the house, which seemed mundane. His identity was not provided. Vi, Yahoo, er en del av Yahoo-familien av merkevarer. DEA officials say the smuggled narcotics flow from Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel through Riverside County stash houses en route to sellers markets in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Canada. Officials interdicting bundles of meth, heroin and fentanyl on Friday said it was the second-largest meth bust in Customs and Border Protection history. "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. 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. Authorities specifically mentioned two incidents of alleged drug smuggling along the southern border. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. Jeff Moore, the former narcotics prosecutor, compared the countys drug trafficking network to the San Bruno natural gas pipeline. Although this stash house was busted, no one knows how many remain undetected, small cogs in Riverside Countys gigantic drug smuggling machine. All rights reserved. "Drugs make people make bad decisions," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez. The parties involved were detained, culminating in a search warrant being obtained and served at the courier's Perris residence. A total of 19 suspects were indicted. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. 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. Authorities say the suspects were attempting to sell hard drugs to the undercover officers, not marijuana. The DEA's bust was just one of two massive meth seizures by federal authorities in October. We will continue to work together to disrupt drug trafficking organizations at every opportunity we are given.. Other suspects are alleged to have then distributed the drugs to gang members across the Inland Empire. Desert Sun reporter Brett Kelman can be reached by phone at (760) 778-4642, by email at brett.kelman@desertsun.com, or on Twitter @TDSbrettkelman. Operation Crystal Shield is a nationwide effort involving 70 to 80 investigators in nine cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta. Alarmed, a construction worker called the cops, whosent a bomb squad. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Reyes surrendered. The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County, officials said. Updated: 10:31 PM PDT October 14, 2020 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 DEA says ruralareas are ideal for stash houses because they are difficult to monitor, but other experts said surroundings dont really matter. Oct. 14, 2020. How To Sign Up, Name That Species: What In The World Is This Strange Creature? The Drug Enforcement Administration holds a news conference in Montebello, Calif., to announce the largest domestic meth seizure in the agency's history. This is real proof of a job well done.. Klikk Administrer innstillinger for mer informasjon og for administrere valgene dine. He earned his bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. Police arrested 23 people in an operation designed to crack down on illegal drug sales in downtown Riverside. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. They knew then it was probably dope.. The drugs seized at the location, which also included heroin and fentanyl, had a street value of about $7.2 million. Finn ut mer om hvordan vi bruker informasjonen din i retningslinjene for personvern og retningslinjene for informasjonskapsler. Originally from Miami, she holds a masters degree in journalism from USC. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. "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. Also seized were 893 pounds (405 kilograms) of cocaine and 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms) of heroin. Breaking News Agents and drug dogs sweep the traffic, hunting for hidden narcotics, but there are far too many travelers to search them all. For all intents and purposes, its a proven drug dealer by the time we get up on their phones, Massino said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday: roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County. Well let me hang up.. "Wow," Lisa Serrano, a shopper, said. If Leon-Garcias truck had been stopped here, instead, the case would have been far less remarkable. The amounts we are seeing are unfortunately on the rise, but we're also seizing more, getting more of this poison off the streets.. The arrests were announced during a news conference in Riverside Wednesday morning, where authorities said violent crime has risen dramatically during the pandemic. The loose dirt turned easy. More than 40,000 plants are spread out. He previously was a reporter and assistant city editor for the Daily Pilot, a Times Community News publication in Orange County, and before that wrote for the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. 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. #DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea, Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner & local law enforcement discussing the largest domestic methamphetamine seizure in #DEA history. Justice officials fear nation's biggest wiretap operation may not be legal. The massive methamphetamine seizure was part of Operation Crystal Shield, a nationwide effort the DEA launched in February. 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. Be the first to know when news breaks in Coachella Valley. "Synthetic drugs like methamphetamine are highly addictive, dangerous and killing people at alarming rates," DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner said. That's nearly. Riverside County has become the single largest drug trafficking distribution center in the United States, built on a web of highways, nondescriptsuburbia and empty desert, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. In 2014, the county had 624 wiretaps, intercepting more than 2 million calls, texts and other communications involving more than 44,000 people. (DEA) MORENO VALLEY, CA Federal agents on Wednesday announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust by Drug Enforcement Agency . If they push an investigation far enough, there is an excellent chance its going to make it back here, said Tim Massino, a DEA spokesman. NWS releases preliminary reports on 13 Alabama tornadoes from Jan. 12. No charges have yet been filed in the latest seizures, although authorities said cases would likely be prosecuted in both California and Washington, D.C. Todays seizure sends a message loud and clear, Shea said Wednesday. In total, 1088. "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. A 20-year-old La Crosse man faces multiple criminal charges after a Dec. 17 traffic stop in La Crosse. 11/22/2022 12:00 AM. 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. 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. Brett Kelman, The Desert Sun, and Brad Heath, USA TODAY. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities busted one of the largest marijuana cultivations ever uncovered in the city of Riverside, officials said Friday. It was the quintessential pipe bomb, about a foot long and an inch-and-a-half wide, with caps on both ends. 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. It gradually destroys the body and mind of people who use it, and eventually it kills them.. 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. Narcotics seized during a bust Friday in Otay Mesa. 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 . 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. 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. "It's just a risk they take. "The bulk shipments of drugs are usually broken down into smaller quantities and transported to other states or distributed to local dealers.". If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 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 . There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. 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. But Riverside police are fighting to make sure the area doesn't become known for an area riddled with illegal drug sales. First, they had caught a street-level dealer in Temecula with 33 grams. Federal agents announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust in U.S. history Wednesday . Empty the trash in the bathroom. 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. Representatives of the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration attended the news conference. But Chief Gonzalez points to other causes for the recent rise in crime. The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County, officials said. Kathy Vara reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. If convicted, they face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in federal prison, with a possible maximum sentence of life in prison. 5, 2020 at 11:29 AM PDT. One of the suspects was on active parole for attempted murder. According to the indictment, between April and August of 2020, the lead defendants Timoteo Gomez, 48, of Riverside and Javier Rodriguez, 54, of Riverside, bought meth from their suppliers in Mexico, as well as in Los Angeles and Riverside counties. The investigation led to the seizure of dozens of kilos of illegal drugs - including 21 kilos of suspected carfentanil. They. 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. Roughly 1,600 pounds of meth were also located at a narcotics stash house in Perris, officials said. DEA cherishes our great law enforcement partners in San Diego, especially those who work tirelessly to protect our nations borders. 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. For two months, Rohn and his partners at the DEA had been using wiretaps to chase a drug ring. More than 70 investigators worked the two California cases, which included extensive fieldwork and surveillance. Narcotics detectives with the Fontana Police Department spotted the exchange. However, even raw numbers reveal Riverside County as a centerpiece in U.S. drug trafficking, rivaling the nations largest cities. "The drugs that will kill you.". Hailing from Temecula, she previously covered Riverside County and the Inland Empire and is now focused on Orange County. October 14, 2020 / 10:20 PM "The greater Los Angeles area is a major transshipment hub where illegal drugs coming from the southwest border are stored in local warehouses, storage units and residential properties," according to the DEA. "They can break the drug loads down and do distribution throughout the country," Bodner said. 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. But officials were also careful to point out that the targets of the seizures were cartels and drug dealers, not addicts. Authorities said it was the second-largest meth bust ever for Customs and Border Protection. It looks just like someone coming home from work.. Online Volunteer Info Session- Learn How to Advocate for Youth in Foster Care! Thats why traffickers prefer to get the drugs here.. Riverside. Operation Crystal Shield has resulted in 2,800 arrests over the last six months nationwide, Bodner said. On April 5, 2011, Deputy Gerald Rohn, of the Riverside County Sheriffs Department, dug into the side yard of an abandoned house in Lake Elsinore. This was a rare momentwhen Riverside Countys secret drug pipeline a cross-countryconduit for tons of meth and heroin accidentally exposed itself to the outside world. Troopers championed the case as the biggest meth bust in the history of Arkansas, but the truck had come from Riverside County. 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. Federal authorities on Wednesday showed off results of Southern California raids. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Her husband ran out the back door, vanishing into the desert. (Renee Schiavone/Patch) RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA Authorities Wednesday arrested 16 defendants . 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Click Here to Download the News Channel 3 app. Fifteen years ago, men like Beltran would have been cooking meth, not smuggling it. "I don't know how they hide that.". He says to hurry up and clean there because I think hes going to take visitors.. RIVERSIDE, California (AP) A former U.S. Du kan endre valgene dine nr som helst ved g til personvernkontrollene dine. . "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 deputy was not surprised. The robot eased closer, eyeing the powder with a camera. Gone is the risk of meth lab explosions and violence between rival cooks and dealers. USA TODAY reporter Brad Heath can be reached at bheath@usatoday.com or on Twitter @bradheath. 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. The DEA decided this was the moment to strike. 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. Authorities arrested eight defendants Thursday named in a federal grand jury indictment alleging their involvement in a drug trafficking organization operating in Los Angeles and Riverside. 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. Whoops! It is not uncommon for a case that was initiated across the country say in Chicago, Atlanta or Little Rock to ultimately lead back to this area.. City News Service contributed to this report. Ok, mom, her daughter said, brimming with enthusiasm. "These numbers are significant," said Kristi Johnson of the FBI. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9/21/2022 8:33 PM. Once smugglers pass Calexico, a majority follow one of two routes, DEA officials say. Another suspect allegedly sold drugs to undercover officers, just two hours after being released from jail on other charges. 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,. Carfentanil . Updated: 10:31 PM PDT October 14, 2020. 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. The recently seized drugs stemmed from the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels in Mexico, Shea 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. 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. Stephanie Lai was a 2020 intern for the Los Angeles Times. "That's what's scary.". 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. 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. They know that some will get caught, but a lot of it's going to get through.". You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday: roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County. "In my humble opinion, it's because of two reasons. 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. Wiretaps are requiredto be last resorts for law enforcement, used only when surveillance, informants and other investigatory tools have failed. The Sinaloas have been linked to 90 percent of the drugs that move through Southern California, said Dave Stinnett, an intelligence analystwith the DEAs Los Angeles division. 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. Redding felon's drug sales arrest marks second drug bust in 11 days - Woman also arrested . According to the DEA, agents worked in concert with the Fontana Police Department to interdict a drug supply operation run by the Sinaloa Cartel, with a residence in Norco serving as a major piece of the pipeline. All rights reserved. A total of 12 suspects have been arrested, with several more still outstanding. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. As trafficking has expandedin Riverside County, so have efforts to stop it. 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. Last year, four Coachella men were indicted as part of a conspiracy to move millions in Sinaloa drug profits from Canada to Mexico. They probably didnt even know there was a pipeline beneath their feet, Moore said. "Meth, heroin, cocaine," said city councilman Mike Gardner. The narcotics were all packed away in approximately 25 duffle bags. 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. Ved klikke Godta alt godtar du at Yahoo og vre partnere vil behandle din personlige informasjon og bruke teknologier som informasjonskapsler, for vise personlig tilpassede annonser og innhold, for annonse- og innholdsmling, publikumsinnsikt og produktutvikling. Chief Sergio Diaz made the announcement during a news conference at Riverside city hall, flanked by law enforcement personnel, community leaders, and elected officials. 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. The agency did not disclose whether any arrests had been made or were pending, saying only that the investigation is ongoing. Approx. 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. Meth is an especially vicious drug, he said. Some suspects were already in custody on other charges. Without knowing it, Beltran had told them exactly where to dig. By Scott Schwebke. Agents seized more than 5,000 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. Police say all the suspects are now facing felony charges. Bob Epps, the bomb squad supervisor. The DEA said it represented the single "largest seizure" of meth that the agency's Los Angeles personnel had ever made. Another blast is on the way. The historic Southern California seizure stemmed from a shadowing operation on Oct. 2, when investigators observed a courier make a drop in a Sam's Club parking lot in Moreno Valley. Severe Weather A man was arrested on multiple charges during a drug bust in Columbus. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office will be hosting a Deputy Sheriff and Correctional Deputy Expedited Hiring Event on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Palm Desert High School, 74910 Az. On Friday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at an Otay Mesa commercial facility in San Diego County seized more than 3,100 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills and heroin as part what the DEA characterized as the second-largest methamphetamine bust along the southwest border in the history of the CBP. A total of 23 arrests were made late last week during a warrant sweep. Dylan Bingham was charged Jan. 9 in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of . Seized heroin has been mostly white powder, rather than black tar, and officials believe these shipments are intended for East Coast markets, where white powder heroin is more popular. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. Despite the significant number of arrests, they said the massive size of these criminal drug rings is discouraging. 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. In one case, smugglers brought more than 90 pounds of meth across the border undetected at a border checkpoint. Postal Service and private vehicles to ship large quantities of cocaine and other narcotics to buyers across the country. We dont see many of those anymore.. Luke Money is a Metro reporter covering breaking news at the Los Angeles Times. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. / KCAL News. 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. This is the third-busiest port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border, and likely the largest for smuggled narcotics. Two years before that, Riverside resident Hiram Granados Alvarez was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to ship 220 pounds of cocaine to a drug ring in Baltimore. "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. Then they followed a wiretap to his supplier, who had 1.8 ounces in an RV in Perris. 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. On Oct. 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a truck crossing from Mexico into the United States at San Diego's Otay . The robot fired, and tin and copper flak perforated the pipe like buckshot. Keep up with all the latest news, arts and culture, and TV highlights from KPBS. Successful seizures like these save lives and reduce the exploitation and victimization of our local communities, Bodner said. "That's a bad combination.". Morning Forecast And these figures still don't account for all the drugs and cash seized in Riverside County. In the pickup, agents found the visitors. Twenty-nine pounds of heroin were hidden in a secret compartment. Officers served a warrant at a home in the . Even if Sinaloas dont move the drugs themselves, they tax any other cartel that ships narcotics through their territory, like a smuggling tollbooth. The DEAs Timothy Shea, left, and Bill Bodner stand next to a pyramid comprised of 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine, 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin. 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. "When you hear a story like this, where a guy is out for two hours and is slinging dope, it is somewhat demoralizing. They are the number-one threat, Stinnett said. The list of chores had been a code get the hiding places ready. 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. LA man receives 3 years in prison for $619,000 skimming scheme. 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. 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? INDIO, Calif. The black plastic pipe lay under the overpass, resting against the center median of Interstate 10, one of the nations busiest highways. Feds Bust Up Inland Empire Drug-Trafficking Ring . 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Hayley Smith covers breaking news in California with a focus on wildfires, drought and climate change. A total of 23 arrests . 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. News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. 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. "I can't bear to think about families coming here and shopping and knowing this is going on," Tanya Rivas, another shopper, 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. 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. "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. 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. That pipeline begins south of the border, in a region of Mexico controlled by the Sinaloa cartel. 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. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines, EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Daily News Headlines The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2 and included 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin and 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine. NBC Universal, Inc. A record meth bust part of a national operation was announced Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. 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. 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. Travel Safely and Make it to the Table for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The entire operation lasted nearly two years. Beltran, who was convicted in 2013, was sentenced to four years in prison. 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. CALIFORNIA, USA Federal agents announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust in U.S. history Wednesday, displaying a 10-foot high pile of . 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin & 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine. 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. 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. 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. People who live in the Inland Empire said it was scary not knowing if the stash houses were located in their communities. 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