Central California drug, gun bust linked to year-long Mexican cartel investigation, deputies say
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY – For more than a year, authorities say they've been investigating Sinaloa Cartel members in California's Central Valley. On Friday, they announced that 13 people were arrested and took "a major step in disrupting cartel operations in California."
The investigation started back in April 2023, saying they were investigating members of the Sinaloa Cartel who were responsible for large-scale methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms trafficking in the Central Valley and other areas.
More than a year later, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office announced a "major drug and weapons" bust.
Over a week and a half, starting Nov. 4, authorities served 19 federal search warrants across San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Merced counties.
This operation led to 13 arrests on state and federal charges, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies also say 110 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 120,000 fentanyl pills, two kilograms of cocaine, a quarter pound of heroin, about $4 million in THC products and roughly $450,000 were seized.
They also seized 141 guns, including machine gun conversions, ARs, pistols, rifles, .50 caliper weapons, high-capacity magazines and a suppressor, according to the sheriff's office.
The search also led to the dismantling machine gun manufacturing lab and a methamphetamine conversion lab.
The Stockton Police Department, Tracy Police Department, DEA, HSI and ATF assisted in the investigation.