Authorities said that four men were arrested in connection with one of the biggest drug busts ever to occur in San Diego County, California.
The four men, identified as 37-year-old Rafael Alzua, 41-year-old Galdrino Contreras, 41-year-old Mario Contreras and 44-year-old Ethgar Velazquez, are all from Tijuana, Mexico. Officials said that they were charged with federal drug trafficking after law enforcement agents confiscated more than 5,000 pounds methamphetamine.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, a 20-foot box truck crossed from Mexico into the U.S. through the Otay Mesa Commercial Port of Entry. The four men were unloaded by law enforcement agents “dozens”According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, cardboard boxes were moved from the truck to a Dodge van.
Law enforcement arrested them and found almost 148 bundles of what later proved to be methamphetamine. This was more than 5,000 pounds. “record-breaking” seizure.
“This monumental seizure represents another win against drug cartels that fuel addiction in the United States,”Shelly S., Drug Enforcement Administration Special agent in Charge, said in a press release.
Two out of four men were granted bail by a federal court. According toThe San Diego Union Tribune.
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune a $25,000 personal appearance bail was issued for Galdrino Contreras and a $20,000 personal appearance bail was issued for Velazquez. The outlet reported that Alzua’s defense lawyer requested that the judge continue the detention hearing through July 19.
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune Mario Contreras is Galdrino Contreras’s twin and he did not appear at court. The prosecutor stated that he had no idea why the man wasn’t present at court.
According to Leila Morgan (federal public defender), Velazquez is an American citizen and a long-time resident of San Diego County.
Prosecutors claimed that Contreras had lived in Tijuana over the past 20 years. According to reports, Contreras tried to flee law enforcement officers during his arrest. Contreras also has a residence in the United States, is a citizen of the United States and has no past convictions, according to his defense counsel, who requested that the judge set bond, reported The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Galdrino Contreras, his defense lawyer, stated that he believed he was being paid by the outlet to unload something from the vehicle.
“Although it is a lot of methamphetamine, that is not a reason to detain him,”According to The San Diego Union Tribune, attorney David Zugman stated this.