Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Making Arrangements to Send Tractor-Trailers Loaded with Narcotics from Sinaloa, Mexico Destined for San Diego, California

In 2015, Drug Enforcement Administration agents intercepted the communications of the defendant and others making arrangements for tractor-trailers to travel from Sinaloa, Mexico to Baja California, Mexico, carrying hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin among canned food and drinks, frozen shrimp and vegetable boxes and other household goods. Once they arrived at a Tijuana warehouse, the narcotics were unloaded, distributed to couriers and smuggled into San Diego, California. connection with the entry of his guilty plea, Salazar-Nunez admitted to making arrangements for four tractor-trailers that were seized by Mexican law enforcement, including: a tractor-trailer stopped on March 28, 2015, with a total of approximately 285 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of heroin and 11 kilograms of cocaine; two tractor-trailers stopped on April 28, 2015, with a total of approximately 422 kilograms of methamphetamine, 38 kilograms of heroin and 4 kilograms of cocaine; and a tractor-trailer stopped on August 21, 2015, with approximately 165 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Salazar-Nunez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9 before Judge Sabraw.

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

DEFENDANT                                 Criminal Case No. 15-CR-2380-DMS

Jesus Manuel Salazar-Nunez            Age: 35

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952, 960 and 963.

Penalties: Mandatory Minimum 10 years and Maximum Life in Prison, $10,000,000 fine, $100 Special Assessment, Supervised Release up to Life

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Drug Enforcement Administration

Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations

Customs and Border Protection Office of Border Patrol

San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center

Homeland Security Investigations

Internal Revenue Service