Forty-eight individuals have been charged in an Imperial Valley takedown of a drug trafficking network linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

Early Wednesday morning, more than 140 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers executed 15 search warrants in Imperial County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Stockton, as well as Yuma, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. Twenty-five defendants were arrested and an additional 23 remain fugitives. Authorities seized about 8,000 pounds methamphetamine; substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin; and one firearm over the course of the investigation. Among the charges in the indictments are drug trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling. 

According to court records, the defendants belonged to a drug trafficking organization based in the Imperial Valley and Mexicali, with ties to Los Rusos, one of the most violent and significant factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. Court records show the investigation involved undercover operations, wiretaps, controlled purchases, traffic stops of personal vehicles and several tractor trailers as well as searches of houses and stash locations. 

Investigating agencies included Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Imperial County Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspectors, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Imperial County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, and, Calexico, Brawley, San Bernardino and El Centro Police Departments