7 arrested, 6 sought after multi-agency investigation into LA Harbor Area drug trafficking

Several arrests were made Tuesday, Nov. 16, arsenic a effect of a multi-agency effort dubbed Operation “Wipe Out,” the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office announced.

Seven defendants were arrested successful Los Angeles, San Diego, Bullhead City and Calexico for their roles successful a cause trafficking enactment operating retired of the Harbor Area of Los Angeles. Six others are inactive being sought aft by authorities.

Those arrested made their archetypal appearances successful national tribunal successful downtown Los Angeles connected Tuesday.

The 13 defendants are named successful 4 abstracted indictments that outlines assorted charges of amerciable transactions, including undercover purchases of firearms and narcotics specified arsenic methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.

The defendants arrested contiguous include:

• Adrian Abasolo, 26, of San Diego;
• Alejandro Mendoza, 45, of Los Angeles;
• Hector Valentin, 28, of Long Beach;
• Rodolfo Ulyses, 61, of Bullhead City, Arizona;
• Juan Antonio Aguilar-Bravo, 45, of Calexico;
• Gabriela Contreras, 42, of Gardena; and
• Marisela Sanchez, 43, of Wilmington.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division and the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force launched an probe into the cognition successful 2020. Undercover officers conducted dozens of operations betwixt April and July of 2021 that led to the suspected individuals, according to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Authorities recovered 250 pounds of methamphetamine and 1 lb of fentanyl during that period, arsenic good arsenic 6 handguns and 1 rifle.

The different six defendants charged successful the indictment and inactive wanted by instrumentality enforcement include:

• Hector Yair Sanchez, 25, of Pomona;
• Christian Garcia, 29, of Long Beach;
• Jorge Luis Perez Sandoval, 36, of Victorville;;
• Luis Fernando Verdugo; 25, of Pacoima;
• Alexander Guerrero; 42, of Los Angeles; and
• Oscar Humberto Gallegos, 35, of San Diego.

The lawsuit was a associated effort by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gang and Narcotics Division, its Harbor Division and LA IMPACT.

The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office successful Los Angeles.

The defendants look betwixt 5 years and beingness successful national situation if convicted, according to authorities.