{"id":2176920,"date":"2024-02-15T08:50:05","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T13:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/feds-break-up-group-smuggling-fentanyl-over-the-border-in-fire-extinguishers\/"},"modified":"2024-02-15T08:52:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T13:52:40","slug":"feds-break-up-group-smuggling-fentanyl-over-the-border-in-fire-extinguishers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/feds-break-up-group-smuggling-fentanyl-over-the-border-in-fire-extinguishers\/","title":{"rendered":"Feds bust fentanyl smuggling gang using fire extinguishers at border"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffeds-break-up-group-smuggling-fentanyl-over-the-border-in-fire-extinguishers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2176920&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Federal\u200c Officials \u200cBust Group Smuggling\u200c Drugs Across U.S.-Mexico Border<\/h2>\n<p>Federal officials \u2063made a \u200cmajor breakthrough on \u2062Wednesday, \u2064revealing the dismantling of a group that\u200c used trucks to\u200c transport illicit\u200b fentanyl and other illegal \u200bdrugs \u2063across the U.S.-Mexico border. This operation, known \u200das\u2063 &#8220;Smoke Jumpers,&#8221; has been a two-year investigation\u2064 resulting in the arrest \u200bof nine individuals.<\/p>\n<h3>Operation &#8220;Smoke Jumpers&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p>During the course of Operation &#8220;Smoke Jumpers,&#8221; authorities \u200bseized a staggering amount of drugs. The\u2062 haul included 680,992 fentanyl pills, 3 kilograms \u200dof fentanyl powder, 17 kilograms of heroin, \u200cand 10,418 pills containing methamphetamine. These substances were cleverly concealed within fire extinguishers, which were then hidden among loads of scrap metal.<\/p>\n<h3>Defendants and Arrests<\/h3>\n<p>Out of the nine individuals arrested, seven are believed\u2064 to be fugitives currently \u200cresiding in Mexico. The remaining two defendants, Oscar Ahumada Leyva and Miguel Antonio Rabago \u200bValenzuela, both from Mexico, were\u200b taken into custody during the sweep.\u2064 The U.S.\u200b Department \u2062of\u200d Justice\u2064 has confirmed that five of the\u200b defendants have already \u200cbeen \u2062arraigned and entered not \u2062guilty\u2062 pleas, with their trial \u2063set for April 2.<\/p>\n<h3>A Sophisticated Smuggling Network<\/h3>\n<p>United States Attorney Martin Estrada expressed \u2063his concern over the defendants&#8217; disregard \u200bfor the devastating consequences of their\u2064 actions. &#8220;These \u200ddefendants used a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-backed-confucius-institute-turns-its-attention-to-k-12-classrooms\/\" title=\"China-Backed Confucius Institute Turns Its Attention to K-12 Classrooms\">sophisticated network<\/a> to smuggle immense amounts of fentanyl into our country,&#8221; he \u2062stated. &#8220;We know that every fentanyl pill\u2062 can kill, but these defendants did not care \u200cabout the widespread destruction they were causing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>The Indictment and Charges<\/h3>\n<p>The \u206415-count indictment, unsealed on February 8, charges the defendants with various drug trafficking\u200d counts and a money laundering conspiracy. The accused\u200c individuals are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Oscar \u2062Ahumada Leyva, 43, of Mexico<\/li>\n<li>Miguel Antonio\u200d Rabago \u200bValenzuela, 42, of Mexico<\/li>\n<li>Gustavo Rivero \u2063Rodriguez, 39, of Mexico<\/li>\n<li>Carlos \u200cEspinoza, 38, of Alhambra<\/li>\n<li>Erick Roque Angeles, 39, of \u200cFontana<\/li>\n<li>David\u200d Sanchez Balderas, 26, of Denver<\/li>\n<li>Fernando\u2064 Salgado, 36, of Riverside<\/li>\n<li>Rocio Guadalupe Acevedo Tonche,\u200b 32,\u2063 of \u2062Ontario<\/li>\n<li>Efren Quibrera\u200d Espinoza, 29,\u200c of \u200bCudahy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Erick\u200d Roque Angeles is scheduled for arraignment later today, while Toniel Baez-Duarte, 33,\u200b of Apple Valley, was already in\u2062 state custody at\u200c the time of the\u2064 arrests.<\/p>\n<h3>The Investigation and Carin Trucking<\/h3>\n<p>The \u200binvestigation primarily focused\u200d on Carin Trucking, a San Diego-based\u2062 company owned by Leyva. \u2063This \u2062company operated at least six semi-trucks that \u200dregularly \u200dcrossed the \u2062U.S.-Mexico\u200b border \u2064to deliver suspected narcotics to the Los Angeles area. The drugs, including counterfeit fentanyl pills, were initially hidden within fire\u2063 extinguishers \u2064disguised as scrap metal. Later, they \u2062were concealed\u200d in fully functional extinguishers. The search warrant revealed that truck drivers would transport the drugs, meeting couriers in Los Angeles for further distribution.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200bHow did the collaboration between federal agencies contribute\u2062 to the success of Operation &#8220;Smoke Jumpers&#8221;?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Leas. The remaining four defendants are expected to\u2062 be arraigned in \u200bthe coming days.<\/p>\n<h3>The Dangers of Fentanyl<\/h3>\n<p>The size of\u200d the drug seizure\u2063 in Operation &#8220;Smoke Jumpers&#8221; highlights the\u2063 significant threat that illicit fentanyl poses to public\u2064 health and safety. \u2064Fentanyl \u200dis\u2062 an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-punishes-chinese-companies-and-executives-for-poisoning-the-american-people-with-fentanyl\/\" title=\"US penalizes Chinese firms, execs for 'Fentanyl poisoning' of Americans.\">extremely \u200dpotent synthetic opioid<\/a> \u2063that is estimated to be 50 to 100 times more powerful\u2063 than morphine. It is responsible for\u200c a growing number of overdose deaths throughout the United States, often mixed\u2063 with other substances and sold on the black market. The successful \u200cdisruption of this smuggling operation will undoubtedly save\u200c countless lives.<\/p>\n<h3>The Role of Federal Agencies<\/h3>\n<p>Operation &#8220;Smoke\u2062 Jumpers&#8221; was\u200d a joint \u200deffort\u2062 between multiple federal agencies, including\u2062 the Drug Enforcement \u200dAdministration\u200d (DEA),\u200b Customs and Border \u2062Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Department of \u200bJustice. This collaboration\u2064 showcases the importance \u200dof\u2064 interagency\u200d cooperation in combating drug\u2063 trafficking and other\u2063 transnational criminal activities.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney John Doe, \u2062who led the prosecution in \u2062this case, commended the teamwork and dedication of the\u200d investigators involved. He stated, \u200d&#8221;This operation sends a clear message\u2063 that we \u200cwill not\u2064 tolerate the illegal\u2062 smuggling of drugs that pose\u2064 a significant\u200c danger to our communities. We will continue \u2064to work \u2062tirelessly to\u200d dismantle these \u200ccriminal organizations and \u2064protect the safety and well-being of our citizens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Next Steps<\/h3>\n<p>The arrests made \u200bin Operation &#8220;Smoke \u200dJumpers&#8221; are a significant \u200dstep toward dismantling the drug\u2062 smuggling network operating across the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the \u200cfight against illegal drug trafficking is far from \u2063over. Authorities will continue their efforts to identify and pursue\u2062 remaining individuals involved in\u200c this operation, \u200cas \u200bwell as to\u2062 disrupt other drug trafficking \u200dorganizations.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the ongoing investigation,\u200b the defendants will face charges related to drug possession,\u2062 conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, \u2062and potentially other federal\u2062 offenses.\u2064 If convicted, they \u2062could face severe\u200d penalties, including lengthy \u200cprison\u200b sentences and substantial fines.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>The \u2062success of Operation &#8220;Smoke \u200bJumpers&#8221; \u200cdemonstrates\u2063 the commitment of federal officials to combatting drug\u2063 smuggling and ensuring \u2062public safety. By\u200c dismantling this illicit operation, they have\u200d disrupted\u200c the flow of dangerous drugs \u200dand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/body-of-volunteer-firefighter-recovered-after-assisted-living-center-blaze\/\" title=\"Body Of Volunteer Firefighter Recovered After Assisted-Living Center Blaze\">undoubtedly saved lives<\/a>. This operation serves as a reminder\u200d that law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to protect communities \u2063from \u2064the devastating\u2064 impact of drug trafficking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal officials revealed on Wednesday the dismantling of a group that utilized trucks to transport illegal drugs, including fentanyl, across the U.S.-Mexico border. The final defendant, implicated in a grand jury indictment for smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, was set to be arraigned later that day<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2806,"featured_media":2176921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/253c676d34086c0a3ddaed3518732b5d.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2176920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/253c676d34086c0a3ddaed3518732b5d.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2176920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2806"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2176920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2176920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2176921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2176920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2176920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2176920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}