Federal authorities in Los Angeles have revealed a significant strike against an international drug organization accused of trafficking substantial amounts of narcotics through the United States and Canada. Two indictments, part of "Operation Dead Hand," were unsealed, naming 19 individuals facing charges, including nine Southern California residents. Recent arrests have been made in cities such as Los Angeles, Sacramento, Miami, Odessa (Texas), Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary.
The indictments detail the seizure of drugs valued at $16-28 million, including 845 kilograms of methamphetamine, 951 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of fentanyl, and 4 kilograms of heroin, along with $900,000 in cash. The operation, involving Mexican cartels, an Italian mafia figure in Montreal, and a network of truck drivers associated with numerous trucking companies, is described as a sophisticated international drug trafficking conspiracy spanning three countries. The Southern California residents charged include individuals from Long Beach, Hemet, San Jacinto, Riverside, Santa Ana, Stanton, Bell Gardens, Long Beach, and Ontario.
