At least 15 people were arrested, and $16 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in a massive cartel bust in Southern California.
The multi-agency investigation, known as "Hotline Bling," was aimed at a Sinaloa drug trafficking network operating in the Inland Empire.
The investigation started in March 2023 and ran until April 2024 and involved the Riverside Police Department, the Riverside District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and support from the US Postal Inspection Service.
Agents found around 376 pounds of methamphetamine, 600,000 fentanyl tablets, 37.4 pounds of fentanyl, 1.4 kilograms of cocaine, and seven guns during the large-scale operation.
According to Riverside police, the estimated street value for the drugs is around $16 million.
Officials said that the amount of drugs found during the search stopped more than 10 million potentially fatal doses of fentanyl from being distributed within the Inland Empire and throughout the United States.
"As fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to ravage our communities, we will continue to target drug trafficking organizations that put profit over people's lives," US Attorney Martin Estrada said.
Estrada added that the indictment filed by his office alleges that three men shipped kilogram-quantity parcels of narcotics through the US Postal Service, and those who traffic dangerous drugs must be held accountable.
Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez claimed they will continue leveraging every available help to disrupt drug distribution in their neighborhood.
He ensured that their collaboration with the DEA was not just about enforcement but also about safeguarding the future of their community and ensuring that Riverside remains a safe and thriving place for people to live, work, and raise families.
The DEA Riverside District Office and the Riverside Police Department conducted the multi-jurisdictional investigation.
Furthermore, the DEA Wilmington District Office, DEA San Diego Field Division Narcotics Task Force, DEA San Jose District Office, and DEA Special Operations Division helped the Postal Inspection Service.
