Over 20 people charged in Imperial Valley in connection to drug trafficking organization

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A major drug trafficking take down happened in Imperial County on Thursday.

The Department of Justice announced Thursday afternoon that 22 alleged members of a local violent drug trafficking organization were charged in the Imperial Valley.

More than 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement arrested 10 defendants and executed six warrants in the Imperial Valley. They're all believed to be tied to a Sinaloa-based Cartel.  

The alleged members were indicted by a federal grand jury for importing and distributing more than a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the U.S.    

Authorities seized over 2,000 pounds of drugs.

The also found over a thousand pounds of fentanyl, 10 firearms and over $250 thousand made from the sale of illegal drugs. 

Most of the suspects are from the Imperial Valley.

Five of them are from Mexicali, four from Calexico, one from El Centro and one from Imperial.  

Authorities are still on the hunt for 12 more suspects.