Marietta Man Arrested for Trafficking Ten Kilograms of Fentanyl from Mexico

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Rodrigo Morales-Figueroa, 29, of Marietta, Ga., appeared in federal court on June 23, 2025, following his arrest on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

“Foreign cartels profit from the addiction and deaths of Americans, pushing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our federal law enforcement partners saved countless lives by working quickly in this investigation, which disrupted a major drug trafficking pipeline from Mexico.”

“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”

“The dangers of fentanyl cannot be overstated, and this arrest demonstrates our resolve to protect our communities from its devastating impact,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the diligent work of HSI and our law enforcement partners, we successfully intercepted ten kilograms of fentanyl, preventing this poison from reaching the streets of Georgia.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In early June 2025, law enforcement seized ten kilograms of fentanyl hidden in car batteries transported by a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO). On June 17, 2025, federal investigators learned that the DTO planned to send a courier to pick up the fentanyl. On the following day, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations special agents conducted a controlled delivery of ten kilograms of fake fentanyl to the agreed-upon location for the pick-up in Gainesville, Georgia.

Rodrigo Morales-Figueroa arrived at the pick-up location, allegedly reviewed the packages of fake fentanyl, and loaded the packages into his car. Hall County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office deputies assisting with the operation arrested Morales-Figueroa shortly thereafter.

Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only alleges a charge. Morales-Figueroa has not yet been indicted by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.