3 Illegal Immigrants Charged With Transporting Nearly 8,000 Pounds Of Meth Worth $5.5 Million

Nearly 8,000 pounds of methamphetamine were seized during a coordinated operation between the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol this week, authorities announced. The estimated street value of the drugs is $5.5 million.

The bust took place on Monday evening, June 2, around 7 p.m. during a joint narcotics investigation. Detectives from the Sheriffs Border Crimes Suppression Team and federal agents observed four vehicles congregating in a parking lot in the 8200 block of Otay Mesa Road. The vehicles included two white panel vans, a white Ford F-150 pickup, and a semi-truck.

According to a federal complaint, investigators watched as bundles of suspected narcotics were transferred from the semi-truck into the other vehicles. Three of the vehicles later traveled to different locations — a motel in San Ysidro and another in Chula Vista — where the drivers were detained. The fourth vehicle was not mentioned in subsequent law enforcement updates.

A search of the three vehicles uncovered 61 large bundles of methamphetamine weighing a total of 7,704 pounds.

The three suspects, identified by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California as Erick Omar Arriola, 27, of El Salvador, and Mexican nationals Eugenio Lizama, 35, and Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes, 49, were arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges including conspiracy, transportation, and possession of controlled substances for sale.

According to the federal complaint, Arriola was present in the United States despite prior felony convictions for DUI, battery of a spouse, and false imprisonment.

Federal law enforcement officials said the seizure reflects a growing focus on dismantling transnational criminal organizations. The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) San Diego — formed as part of Operation Take Back America — played a key role in the effort.

“The recent formation of Homeland Security Task Force San Diego is an essential step to fulfilling the promises of Operation Take Back America,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Our Office will fully support these enhanced law enforcement partnerships to ensure the safety of our community.”

“Collaboration between law enforcement agencies greatly helps to effectively combat transnational criminal organizations,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker. “The leveraging of our unique capabilities amplifies our ability to safeguard the nation.”

The investigation remains ongoing.