Department of Justice announces takedown of Imperial Valley Drug Trafficking Network

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The United States Department of Justice announced the results of a long-term investigation of an Imperial Valley-based drug trafficking network linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

This was a huge win in the battle against criminal organizations in the Imperial Valley.

Tara McGrath, a United States Attorney, said "Today, we brought down the federal hammer".

In a coordinated takedown, over 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials executed 25 search warrants across Imperial County.

They made 36 arrests on charges including drug trafficking, firearms, and money laundering offenses.

Mcgrath says "Today's coordinated effort is yet another example of what federal and local law enforcement and the Department of Justice are doing to tackle the illicit drug trade and more specifically the fentanyl crisis".

Throughout the investigation, authorities have confiscated more than four kilograms of fentanyl, over 700 pounds of methamphetamine, and 52 firearms.

McGrath adds "Many of the people charged in these cases have prior arrests and convictions on state and federal drug charges suppliers who have been distributing in our communities for far too long".

Investigators utilized several techniques to execute the operation.

"An undercover agent in this investigation was able to buy approximately 8,000 fentanyl pills from one of these defendants for just $0.45 per pill," says McGrath.

They also used a wiretap technique, that resulted in the arrest of Alexander Grindley, a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was charged for the trafficking of methamphetamine.

Kevin Mokhtar, an Assistant United States Attorney, said "As the wiretap progressed, he was obtaining, approximately every 2 weeks regular amounts of methamphetamine in ounce quantities from the target of the investigation and we identified that he was possibly federal law enforcement. "

United States Attorney Tara McGrath says Griddley was terminated almost immediately and that his conduct is in no way reflective of those who protect our border.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says that based on their investigative efforts, they believe this drug trafficking organization is operating in conjunction with and/or being supplied by the Sinaloa cartel.

Chris Davis, the Acting Special Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations-San Diego, says "Once the drugs were smuggled into the United States, the organization developed a compartmentalized network of coconspirators to transport the drugs from El Centro, California to distributors throughout the country,".

This investigation took a collaborative effort made by many different agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Border Patrol, and local police departments.

"We are pursuing every possible angle to combat the reach of fentanyl and other drugs into the imperial county and beyond," says McGrath.

The Brawley Police Chief, Jimmy Duran, says "The positive effects of this successful investigation will be felt throughout our city… By taking dangerous drugs off the streets and disrupting illegal activities, we make our community safer for all residents,".

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says this investigation is ongoing and that 11 fugitives are still on the run.