Three people in Southern California have been arrested for their involvement in a substantial fentanyl trafficking operation, with a combined street value of $55 million.
The big picture: The individuals were found in possession of more than 50 pounds of fentanyl intended for sale, along with an assortment of other narcotics and firearm suppressors, following a joint investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Fentanyl Enforcement Program and the Downey Police Department.
- This seizure surpasses the quantity of fentanyl intercepted at the US-Canada border in 2024, with enough fentanyl to cause fatalities for the entire LA County resident population.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that the confiscated fentanyl equates to around 14 million lethal doses of the drug, underscoring the severity of the criminal activity.
Zoom in; The suspects, identified as Carlos Manuel Mariscal, Gustavo Omar Gomez, and Priscilla Gomez, face significant prison sentences if convicted.
- Mariscal is charged with multiple offenses, including possession for sale of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of ammunition, potentially facing 31 years and eight months in prison.
- Priscilla Gomez faces two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance and could be imprisoned for 28 years, while Gustavo Gomez could receive a 24-year sentence for similar charges.
What they’re saying: “The opioid crisis is a multifaceted public health and safety issue – and addressing this crisis requires a thoughtful and strategic approach,” Bonta said. “I want to thank my team, the Downey Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney for their work in taking fentanyl off our streets and out of California communities. There are countless lives being saved as a result of this important and difficult work.”
- Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said fentanyl remains the leading cause of death in accidental drug overdose cases in Los Angeles.
- “We will be unrelenting in our pursuit to end this tragedy and bring justice to the countless families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl,” Hochman said. “I want to personally thank my Major Narcotics Division – particularly Head Deputy Juan Mejia and Deputy District Attorney Mark Inaba – for their diligence in this case. I also extend my gratitude to the California Department of Justice and Downey Police Department for their unwavering partnership in getting dangerous individuals off our streets.”
