Two Long Beach men are among 19 people accused by federal authorities of taking part in an organized crime group that allegedly trafficked thousands of pounds of drugs from Mexico to the United States and Canada.
Carlos Barragan, 51, was charged in an indictment filed in U.S. District Court earlier this month with two drug trafficking conspiracies; conspiracy to import cocaine; drug exportation conspiracy; distribution/possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of ammunition, according to federal prosecutors. Jorge Pina Nicols, 22, was charged in a separate indictment with conspiring to traffic drugs, drug exportation conspiracy, and distribution/possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, federal authorities said.
Barragan faces additional charges for allegedly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
“Drug trafficking is a global problem being driven by sophisticated, organized crime groups who put profits over people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Motivated by greed, these criminals destroy lives, devastate families, and wreak havoc in our community. But this case shows that we will collaborate with our international partners to bring these criminal networks to justice.”
Federal authorities say Barragan and Nicols, up until last year, were helping an organized crime group consisting of a Mexico-based drug supplier, U.S. distributors, and Canadian traffickers, and Italian organized crime figure, Robert Scoppa. They’re accused of trafficing and importing thousands of pounds of cocaine and other controlled substances, such as heroin, from Mexico through Los Angeles using “handlers.”
The handlers traveled to specific cities for a short time, coordinating the pick-up and delivery of large shipments of cocaine and methamphetamines, which were loaded onto long-haul semi-trucks being sent to Canada before sending them back to the U.S. for redistribution, federal authorities said.
During their investigation, federal authorities say they seized drugs worth $16 million to $28 million from truck drivers making their way across the U.S.-Canada border. Over $900,000 in cash was also seized during the investigation, they said.
Eventually, authorities identified several suspects involved in helping the crime group and served warrants Tuesday morning in various cities, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Miami, Montreal, Toronto and Calgary.
In total, 12 people have been arrested in connection with helping the crime group traffic drugs, according to federal authorities.
“Until today, the organized members of this conspiracy operated with impunity throughout the many thousands of miles that comprise the North American continent, poisoning communities along the way,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
If convicted, each defendant would face maximum penalties ranging from 40 years to life in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.