On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice announced a large-scale crackdown on an outdoor drug market near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, arresting 18 defendants. Law enforcement agencies believe that two of them are the main suppliers of fentanyl and methamphetamine in that area.
A federal criminal indictment charges a total of 25 defendants, including allegations of possession and intent to distribute controlled substances. Currently, 7 individuals are still at large.
Law enforcement officers seized approximately 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of fentanyl in the residence of one defendant in Calabasas, California.
Bill Essayli, the Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California, stated that they are collaborating with federal and local law enforcement agencies to execute multiple arrest warrants and search warrants to combat drug trafficking in and around MacArthur Park.
MacArthur Park, located on the west side of downtown Los Angeles, has long been plagued by poverty and homelessness issues. Many homeless individuals in the area are drug users, and the park itself is a well-known hub for drug transactions. Surrounding it are densely populated apartments, shops, and office buildings.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell mentioned that the police recently observed a resurgence of drug activities in MacArthur Park, prompting swift action to crack down on street-level drug dealers and their supply chains.
He emphasized that fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous threats to the community, and the police will continue to cooperate with federal agencies to prevent drugs from reaching the streets of Los Angeles.
Law enforcement agencies noted that the area is also marked by rival gang territories. The north side of the park is considered the territory of the 18th Street Gang; south of Wilshire Boulevard belongs to the Crazy Riders Gang, and the west side has been plagued by the notorious Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 gang.
According to court documents, 31-year-old Mallaly Moreno-Lopez and her 28-year-old boyfriend Jackson Tarfur are believed to be the main suppliers of fentanyl powder and methamphetamine in the MacArthur Park area and the Alvarado Corridor, representing the 18th Street Gang in operating a drug distribution network.
Prosecutors allege that the two personally deliver drugs to nearby establishments near MacArthur Park, before distributing them to street-level drug dealers. Their residence in Westmont, South Los Angeles, also serves as a drug stash location.
The indictment further alleges that between March 9th and April 15th of this year, there were a total of 27 fentanyl and methamphetamine transactions in the vicinity of MacArthur Park.
If the defendants are convicted, Moreno-Lopez, Tarfur, and two other defendants could face at least 10 years of federal imprisonment, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; the remaining defendants could face up to 20 years of federal imprisonment.