Port Police task force officers aided a July 28 raid on a remote clandestine meth lab that yielded 1,378 pounds of methamphetamine, about $80,000 in cash and three arrests. A joint DEA–HIDTA probe that began in January previously seized 20,000 fentanyl pills and 20 pounds of meth while tracking a Sinaloa Cartel–linked operation. Separate efforts recovered 119 kilos of cocaine and dismantled a cargo-theft ring responsible for over $2 million in stolen Nike goods, resulting in 12 felony indictments.
Los Angeles Port Police Crack $12.5M Meth Operation, Dismantle $2M Nike Cargo-Theft Ring
Containerized cargo moves through a Southern California terminal. Los Angeles Port Police task force officers supported cases involving a $12.5 million methamphetamine seizure and $2 million in stolen Nike merchandise. (Photo: FreightWaves) (Photo: Jim Allen)
Los Angeles Port Police task force officers assisted federal and local partners in a series of major enforcement actions that led to the seizure of 1,378 pounds of methamphetamine (about $12.5 million in street value), the recovery of more than $80,000 in cash and arrests at a remote clandestine lab. The Port Police also highlighted separate investigations that recovered large quantities of cocaine and dismantled an organized cargo-theft ring responsible for more than $2 million in stolen Nike merchandise.
Desert Lab Raid
On July 28, investigators executed a search warrant at a suspected methamphetamine production site in a remote desert location. Officers recovered crystalline meth and a highly concentrated liquid form of the drug, seized roughly $80,000 in U.S. currency and took three Mexican nationals into custody on allegations of manufacturing narcotics.
Joint DEA–HIDTA Investigation
The DEA New York Field Division and the DEA Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Group 48 opened a joint inquiry in January into a Sinaloa Cartel–linked trafficking organization operating in the Los Angeles area. Confidential investigations over six months produced seizures that included 20,000 fentanyl pills and 20 pounds of meth. Investigators used ground surveillance, electronic monitoring and aerial reconnaissance to locate the clandestine laboratory before executing the July 28 warrant.
Additional Narcotics Seizure
In a separate Riverside County probe, Port Police officers recovered 119 kilos of cocaine and two firearms. Investigators identified three suspects in that case; the agency has not released names or specifics about charges.
Cargo-Theft Investigation
Port Police Cargo Theft Task Force members also dismantled a sophisticated commercial-theft ring tied to the systematic theft of Nike merchandise valued at more than $2 million. That investigation resulted in felony indictments against 12 individuals; the agency has not disclosed the defendants' names or the precise charges.
"These operations highlight the dedication, expertise, and collaborative strength of our Task Force Officers," said Los Angeles Port Police Capt. Daniel Cobos, noting their work improves regional safety and helps suppress drug trafficking while protecting commercial supply chains.
The Port Police released the information on Aug. 3. Los Angeles Port Police is a specialized agency that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to protect the Port of Los Angeles from threats by land, sea, air and cyberspace. The force includes more than 300 sworn officers and civilian personnel and covers roughly 7,500 acres and about 43 miles of waterfront. Task force officers routinely support investigations beyond port property. The agency did not specify dates for the Riverside County or Nike cargo-theft investigations, and it withheld the names of suspects and some case details pending charges or ongoing inquiries.
Help us improve.
