In a significant development, the Justice Department declared charges against 19 individuals hailing from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, accusing them of engaging in large-scale narcotics trafficking across North America. The charges involve the alleged trafficking of substances such as meth, cocaine, and fentanyl on an international scale.
According to investigators, the transnational criminal syndicate purportedly procured substantial quantities of illicit substances at a wholesale level from Mexico and subsequently transported them to U.S. cities, with Los Angeles being one of the key destinations.
The modus operandi involved Canadian “handlers” and “dispatchers” making brief trips into the U.S. to load the narcotics onto long-haul semi-trucks for transportation north of the border, where the drugs could command a higher street price.
Federal Authorities Bring Charges Against 19 Individuals in Drug Trafficking Operation (Credits: ABC7 Chicago)
Out of the 19 accused individuals, 12 have already been apprehended, while seven are currently at large. Notably, one of the defendants, Robert Scoppa, is alleged to have ties to Italian organized crime in Montreal. Another individual, Jesus Ruiz Sandoval Jr., identified as a significant drug trafficker from Mexico, is currently evading authorities.
Dubbed “Operation Dead Hand,” the Justice Department’s investigation brought to light a trafficking scheme involving over 1,800 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,000 pounds of cocaine, and 44 pounds of fentanyl. The seized drugs, with an estimated street value ranging from $16 to $28 million, were accompanied by the confiscation of $900,000 in cash.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the collaborative efforts of agents and prosecutors, citing the dismantling of organized criminal networks profiting from the trafficking of lethal drugs as a testament to their dedication. The charges underscore the relentless pursuit of justice in combating drug-related crime.
Unsealed court documents disclosed a complex network of truckers allegedly coordinating the transportation of drugs across the U.S. and into Canada. Law enforcement agencies in California, Florida, Texas, and Canada executed warrants related to the case, marking a coordinated effort to disrupt the activities of the organized group operating with apparent impunity throughout North America.
Donald Alway, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, highlighted the extensive reach of this criminal organization in a press conference unveiling the charges.
