One of the world's most prolific cocaine traffickers is captured in San Diego, federal officials say - BERITAJA

A man accused of starring 1 of the world’s about prolific cocaine trafficking organizations has been arrested successful San Diego, according to national prosecutors.

Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, 61, besides known arsenic Dan Dario aliases Molis, is alleged to beryllium the leader of Los Huistas, a drug-trafficking statement based successful northwest Guatemala adjacent the Mexican border, prosecutors said. He made his first tribunal quality Thursday and pleaded not guilty.

The apprehension is tied to Operation Guerrilla Unit, a multi-year investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, national prosecutors successful San Diego and rule enforcement partners successful Guatemala and Mexico. The investigation targeted Molina-Lopez, the organization, and a web of high-level cocaine suppliers operating crossed respective countries, authorities said.

“Cartel leaders don’t get to constitute the extremity of their stories,” said Adam Gordon, the apical national charismatic for the Southern District of California.

Los Huistas was responsible for coordinating large-scale cocaine shipments crossed world borders and was 1 of the about prolific cocaine traffickers connected the globe, prosecutors said.

Molina-Lopez was primitively charged successful a 2019 national indictment pinch conspiracy to administer cocaine intended for importation to the United States and conspiracy to administer cocaine connected committee a vessel.

In 2022, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $10 cardinal for accusation starring to his arrest.

Molina-Lopez faces a imaginable maximum condemnation of life successful situation and a $10-million good if convicted, according to prosecutors. A mobility proceeding and proceedings mounting is scheduled for May 11.