Four Los Angeles County Men Arrested After DEA Seizes Over 2,000 Pounds of Drugs

Four men from Los Angeles County were arrested in a major DEA operation for conspiring to distribute over 2,000 pounds of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, powdered fentanyl, and hundreds of thousands of counterfeit fentanyl pills, with the operation centered around a safe house in Compton. The suspects—Jesse Lopez-Martinez, Carlos Mendoza Jr., Hector Merced Parra Jr., and Juan Felix Salazar—used coded language via FaceTime and Snapchat to conduct their drug trafficking activities, some transactions occurring at a local restaurant. Authorities seized approximately 1,730 pounds of meth, 238 pounds of cocaine, 257 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 13 firearms, seven vehicles, and about $1.6 million in drug proceeds. Mendoza, who has a prior felony drug conviction, faces additional charges related to firearm possession, while the others face counts of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years if convicted. Special Agent Matthew Allen emphasized the DEA's zero tolerance stance against drug criminals and the commitment to dismantling such networks to protect communities.