FBI Arrests 6, Seizes Drugs in 2-State Raid

A 51-year-old man was among six suspected drug traffickers arrested this week in connection with what agents described as one of California’s largest narcotics rings.

FBI agents arrested Jorge Moreno at his Capistrano Beach home, alleging that he distributed cocaine and marijuana in an operation headed by the Caro-Quintero organization , which authorities said is also responsible for numerous money-laundering and weapons violations.

Federal authorities in San Diego said they were first alerted to the illegal operation after a 1994 drug bust in Los Angeles that led them to one of two ring leaders.

“The L.A. case was a branch of this,” said FBI Special Agent Jan Caldwell. “There was a drug delivery, a five-kilo coke seizure, and that’s how we got into the players.”

The probe culminated Thursday morning with dozens of federal agents serving search and arrest warrants in Capistrano Beach, San Diego and Las Vegas. Authorities seized about 30 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated $45,000 in street value, several weapons and thousands of dollars in cash.

Also arrested were: Esmeralda Ricardez, also known as Esmeralda Gastelum, 39, of Chula Vista; Diana Armenta de Lopez, also known as Patricia Sanchez, 35, of Chula Vista; Jose Manuel Marquez, 52, of Bonita; Rodolfo Valles, 44, of Chula Vista; and Mario Talaro, 44, of San Diego.

The suspects were charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. If found guilty, each could face maximum fines of $4 million and life in prison.

“This was a significant case to crack and bring this group down because of their impact to Southern California,” Caldwell said. “San Diego is where we stop the flow.”

Agents allege that the Caro-Quintero organization is based in San Diego, but has a network reaching Santa Ana and Las Vegas.

One of the ring’s alleged organizers, Elias Castro-Figueroa, was arrested in October 1994 and is serving time in federal prison for narcotics-related convictions, Caldwell said.

Authorities are still searching for a second alleged leader, whom they identified as Ernesto Gastelum.