Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, has pledged to persist in holding "those who traffic in dangerous narcotics" accountable as illegal drugs continue to ravage U.S. communities. Estrada made this commitment in a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) press release on April 25.
"As fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to ravage our communities, we will continue to target drug trafficking organizations that put profit over people's lives,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada," said Estrada, US Attorney, according to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "The indictment filed by my office alleges that three men shipped kilogram-quantity parcels of narcotics through the United States Postal Service. Those who traffic in dangerous narcotics must be held accountable."
According to the same press release, the DEA Los Angeles Field Division unveiled the results of Operation "Hotline Bling." The operation led to the confiscation of 376 lbs. of methamphetamine, 37.4 lbs. of fentanyl, 600,000 fentanyl tablets, 1.4 kgs. of cocaine, and seven firearms, amounting to an estimated value of $16 million.
The press release further stated that fentanyl is currently the primary cause of death among Americans aged 18-45, with a lethal dose being just 2 milligrams. The operation managed to seize enough fentanyl and methamphetamine to produce an alarming 10 million lethal doses.
Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez expressed his department's commitment to thwart drug distribution in their neighborhoods in the press release. He said: "We will continue leveraging every available resource to disrupt drug distribution trying to make its way into our Riverside neighborhoods." Gonzalez emphasized that their collaboration with the DEA is not merely about enforcement but also about safeguarding their community's future and ensuring that Riverside remains a safe and thriving place for people to live, work, and raise families.
As per the Department of Justice website, Martin Estrada serves as the US Attorney for the Central District of California. He assumed his role as a US Attorney on September 19, 2022, after being appointed by President Biden and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate. In his position, Estrada oversees all federal government legal matters across various divisions including Criminal, National Security, Civil, and Tax.
