This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
More evidence of Mexican cartel activity in Southern California
Assault weapons were seized in a Moreno Valley raid that saw the arrest of two men on gun and drug charges.
(
Picasa
)
California Attorney General Kamala Harris on Tuesday announced the arrest of two men in the Inland Empire who are believed to be associated with the La Familia drug cartel from Michoacan, Mexico.
Jesus Espinoza and Jose Manuel Guizar-Gaytan, both 25, were arraigned in Riverside Superior Court on gun and drug charges. A statement said police raided a Moreno Valley home and storage locker and found 18 pounds of methamphetamine, three assault rifles and a .50 caliber sniper rifle.
“The fight against transnational gangs continues to be a priority for the California Department of Justice,” Harris said. Espinoza is from San Diego. Guizar-Gaytan is from Mexico. Both pled not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 for each, according to the statement.
The arrests are the latest evidence of cartel activity in Southern California. Earlier this month, Harris announced the arrest of four men allegedly associated with the Sinaloa Cartel who attempted to sell 25 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover agent.
Last month, police in the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California seized more than $1 million that the Sinaloa cartel had reportedly made from drug sales in Los Angeles.
In July, a 27-year-old woman believed to be a "main U.S.-based operative" of La Familia was arrested in El Monte, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials told the Los Angeles Times. She was deported.
And in announcing the arrest of 750 people as part of a 2009 nationwide investigation that targeted the Sinaloa Cartel, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said: "International drug trafficking organizations pose a sustained, serious threat to the safety and security of our communities."
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
