An Arizona man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges from August 2024. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) identified Heriberto Lopez-Landeros, 44, as the leader of an unspecified Arizona-based criminal organization.
According to the DEA, Landeros's drug trafficking operation involved importing "large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin from Mexico" into the United States. The organization used semi-truck drivers recruited by Landeros to move the drugs across the country. The drivers often carried the drugs inside the cab of their trucks, authorities specified.
Special agents investigated Landeros for over a year and were able to seize several large loads of drugs, including:
- 83 kilograms of methamphetamine
- 12 kilograms of fentanyl
- 645 grams of heroin
The bust was a multi-agency effort led by the DEA and other members of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which focuses on dismantling high-level drug traffickers such as Landeros.
Arizona has long been identified as a source state for illegal narcotics smuggled from Mexico. From August 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reported numerous significant drug seizures statewide. Troopers seized a total of approximately 6,498 pounds of illicit drugs during the three-month period.
The bust takes place as drug trafficking dominates the national conversation, with President-elect Donald Trump threatening to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada if both countries fail to meet his demands related to curbing illegal drugs and immigrants coming into the United States. While some support Trump's measures, others argue that the influx of drugs from Mexico reflects a deeper national public health crisis fueling the illegal drug trade from within the United States.
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