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Foreign Nationals Charged With Intent To Distribute $5.5 Million In Methamphetamine
Epoch Times ^ | 06/11/2025 | Kimberly Hayek

Posted on 06/11/2025 7:11:36 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Federal authorities in Southern California filed a complaint charging three foreign nationals with conspiring to distribute nearly four tons of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a June 5 statement.


Suspected methamphetamine allegedly discovered in San Diego County, California, on June 2, 2025. Courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff’s Office

Erick Arriola, 27, from El Salvador, and Mexican nationals Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes, 49, and Eugenio Lizama, 35, were charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. They face a minimum of 10 years in prison.

According to federal prosecutors, Arriola is a felon convicted of DUI, battery of a spouse, and false imprisonment.

In the complaint, federal authorities allege that on June 2 at about 7 p.m., the men were moving bundles from a large semi-truck into two white panel vans and a white Ford F150 truck as they were parked in a parking lot on Otay Mesa Road in San Diego County, approximately three miles north of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on the U.S.–Mexico border.

Once the loading was complete, the three defendants allegedly drove in separate directions before Border Patrol agents apprehended them. Two of the vehicles drove to a motel in San Ysidro. The third drove to a motel in Chula Vista, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities seized a total of 61 bundles of suspected methamphetamine weighing more than 7,700 pounds and valued at about $5.5 million.

Attorneys for Arriola, Reyes, and Lizama could not be reached.

The seizure is the largest so far by the new Homeland Security Task Force San Diego, which was established by President Donald Trump’s executive order signed on his first day in office.

The executive order, “Protecting The American People Against Invasion,” requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to establish Homeland Security Task Forces in every state to eliminate cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and drug and human trafficking.

The Homeland Security Task Force San Diego identifies and targets transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling, homicide, extortion, and kidnapping.

“As a founding member of HSTF in San Diego, I’m thrilled to be working alongside our partners who have also committed resources to combatting transnational crime,” Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for the task force, said in a statement. “Cases under the HSTF will be a priority for me and staff as we all will continue to work together to secure our border and keep our communities safe.”

The case was investigated as part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative by the Justice Department that will, in part, support Homeland Security Task Forces.

“The recent formation of Homeland Security Task Force San Diego is an essential step to fulfilling the promises of Operation Take Back America,” U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement. “Our Office will fully support these enhanced law enforcement partnerships to ensure the safety of our community.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin from the U.S. attorney’s recently created Narcoterrorism Unit.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: arriola; baltazarreyes; california; drugs; erickarriola; eugeniolizama; lizama; meth; methamphetamine; mexicans; oppressedmigrants; optakebackamerica; otaymesa; portofentry; reyes; salvadorans; takebackamerica; transnationalcrime; wod

1 posted on 06/11/2025 7:11:36 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Friends of the DemonRATS.


2 posted on 06/11/2025 7:17:59 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (America is under attack by the Messicans and their scum buddies who are here illegally.)
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To: SeekAndFind

California Men


3 posted on 06/11/2025 7:27:03 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: SeekAndFind
Uhmmmm......7,700 pounds of methamphetamine has a street value of $210,000,000 in 1985 dollars, wayyy more than $5.5 million. That's at $60 a gram. I doubt there are many meth dealers selling meth for $1.50 per gram??!!!

7,700 pounds multiplied by 454 grams to a pound, = 3.5 million grams, × $60 per gram, = $212,000,000. (Not $5.5 Million)

A gram of meth will tweak you full steam 24 hours a day for five days, until you start seeing shadow people in dark corners. Then you need to crash and sleep for two days straight, waking up as one mean, moody, and angry, tweaker.

4 posted on 06/11/2025 7:30:22 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Dogs are with us briefly. Politicians last on forever. Listen to your dog. )
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To: SeekAndFind

They were probably going to dump some off at Gavin’s place on their way up the coast. All should be deported unless CA wants to foot the bill for their 10 yr incarceration.


5 posted on 06/11/2025 7:33:04 PM PDT by doc maverick
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To: SeekAndFind

4 tons?

In those containers on ships? Hidden under Stacey Abrams’ smock?

In a history of the rock group Canned Heat they were set up and busted on tour. A 19 year old girl from a nearby town was in a hotel room when the cops broke in and took her rock musician guy out in handcuffs. They let her go because they knew she had no part in the plans but was just there.
On a dresser was an open unwrapped aluminum foil covered brick of hashish. The cop was new and said to her “So stop hanging around with types like these. They’ll only cause you trouble. And I’m afraid you’re going to have to eat your big piece of chocolate candy treat all by yourself. Good night.”


6 posted on 06/11/2025 7:33:20 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Meth is a truly evil drug. It basically fueled the entire German army for years until the drug burned them out. The phrase “Speed Kills” in the 70’s was not about driving a car.


7 posted on 06/11/2025 7:35:12 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Dogs are with us briefly. Politicians last on forever. Listen to your dog. )
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To: SeekAndFind

El Salvador and Mexico. Surprise, surprise!


8 posted on 06/11/2025 7:37:15 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (God save the United States!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Where was Juan Bolsa and the Salamancas...?


9 posted on 06/11/2025 7:39:18 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: SeekAndFind

A good reason why California should have the death penalty.


10 posted on 06/11/2025 7:40:36 PM PDT by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! )
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To: airborne

They were fools to abolish it just like Colorado.


11 posted on 06/11/2025 8:18:08 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: SeekAndFind

Otay Mesa Port of Entry

Is this Newsom’s new port of entry?

Newsom wants Biden to help launch new port of entry for migrants before Trump takes over
Washington Examiner ^ | 05 Dec 2024 | Elaine Mallon
Posted on 12/9/2024, 1:39:04 AM by blueplum

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) visited the U.S.-Mexico border to announce plans to create a new port of entry, emphasizing the importance of U.S. trade relations with Mexico.

While funding for the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, an estimated $798 million project, has yet to be finalized, Newsom said that contractors have already been selected with the plan to break ground in January.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


12 posted on 06/11/2025 8:26:27 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustmilents offered here free of charge)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Agents of satan.


13 posted on 06/11/2025 9:09:39 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: SeekAndFind

Hollywood must be planning some parties for the summer.


14 posted on 06/12/2025 6:01:47 AM PDT by Vaduz
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