San Diego Authorities Arrest Three Noncitizens for Alleged $5M Meth Trafficking Operation
Authorities seize 61 bundles of meth from three vans as three individuals are arrested in San Diego's South Bay.
Federal and local law enforcement officials have announced the arrest of three men who were allegedly attempting to transport an enormous quantity of methamphetamine—nearly 8,000 pounds—through San Diego’s South Bay region earlier this week. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is believed to exceed $5 million, making it one of the most significant drug busts in the area so far this year.
The operation unfolded on Monday around 7 p.m. as part of a coordinated investigation involving both the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol agents. According to authorities, surveillance teams observed suspicious activity in a parking lot on Otay Mesa Road where three vehicles appeared to be loaded with suspicious bundles. Law enforcement suspected the vehicles contained illegal narcotics and continued to monitor them as they left the scene, splitting up and traveling toward motels in San Ysidro and Chula Vista.
All three drivers were apprehended without incident at their respective destinations. Officials identified the suspects as Erick Omar Arriola, 27, a citizen of El Salvador; and Eugenio Lizama, 35, and Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes, 49, both citizens of Mexico. All three men were reportedly in the United States illegally at the time of their arrest. Notably, Arriola has prior felony convictions, including driving under the influence, battery of a spouse, and false imprisonment.
During subsequent searches of the vehicles, investigators uncovered a total of 61 large bundles of methamphetamine weighing more than 7,700 pounds. The drug haul is valued at about $5.5 million, and officials say its seizure represents a significant blow to trafficking operations in Southern California. “It was one of the biggest seizures of methamphetamine in 2025 in the Southern District of California, and the most significant so far by the new Homeland Security Task Force San Diego,” officials said. The task force was recently established by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to combat cross-border crime, following a directive from President Trump.
The suspects have been booked into the San Diego Central Jail and are facing multiple charges, including conspiracy, transportation, and possession of controlled substances for sale. Investigators continue to probe potential links between this case and larger drug trafficking networks operating along the U.S.-Mexico border.
This record-breaking seizure underscores growing concerns among public health and law enforcement officials about the scale and sophistication of international drug smuggling efforts targeting the United States. Authorities warn that such incidents highlight the urgent need for continued vigilance and cooperation between federal and local agencies to disrupt dangerous narcotics pipelines before they reach American communities.
