Federal government dismantles California-based drug trafficking ring linked to Sinaloa Cartel; Border Patrol Agent Alexander Grindley Arrested

EL CENTRO, California — Federal authorities announced a major takedown of a California-based drug trafficking network linked to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel.

A total of 47 people have been indicted for their alleged involvement in the Imperial Valley-based fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution network, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Thirty-six people were taken into custody and 11 are now considered fugitives. Among the arrests was Alexander Grindley, a U.S. Border Patrol agent, who was allegedly involved in trafficking methamphetamine on behalf of the cartel.

The agent's home in Brawley, California, was searched and investigators found drug paraphernalia, including scales, baggies and methamphetamine, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.

More than 400 federal, state and local law enforcement officials were involved in the coordinated takedown Wednesday morning, executing 25 search warrants in Central and Southern California, as well as Phoenix and Salem, Oregon.

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Adding up Wednesday's arrest and related prior efforts, authorities seized four kilograms of fentanyl, more than 324 kilograms of methamphetamine, “significant quantities” of cocaine and heroin and 52 firearms.

Fentanyl was used to make counterfeit oxycodone pills in doses that could be fatal, Mokhtari said.

And trafficking is not limited to simple exchanges of drugs for money, he said.

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“We identified that the source of supply in Mexico would be trading weapons for methamphetamine,” Mokhtari said.

Crimes listed in the indictments include drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms offenses.

Penalties for the various indictments if convicted can range from 10 years to life in prison and millions of dollars in fines.

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