YUMA, Ariz. – Several people were arrested in Yuma, Arizona, and Monterey, California, on Sept. 9, for their role in transporting narcotics connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, and transporting drugs with the Norteño gang leaders.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Yuma and Monterey, the Salinas Police Department Investigations Unit, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Salinas Violence Suppression Task Force investigated the case.
Law enforcement agencies have been conducting the ongoing investigation into NorCal Transportation since April. Special agents, officers and troopers executed five search warrants and arrested four individuals in connection with this ongoing narcotics investigation. Those arrested include: Everardo Rodriguez Duran, Brian David Duran, Guadalupe Duran, Juan Duran, Uriel Coronel, Jesus Miranda Haros, Juan Carlos Magana and Amaytani Nunez. They are facing state charges including conspiracy to transport and distribute narcotics, firearms possession, gang enhancements and conspiracy to commit murder.
The individuals arrested in Arizona were booked in Yuma County Jail. The individuals arrested in California were booked in Monterey County jail.
Throughout the course of the investigation approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of heroin, a pound and a half of cocaine and 25,000 fentanyl pills were seized. In addition, nine firearms were seized, along with two bank accounts, a NorCal Transportation tractor trailer and approximately $90,000 in cash/cashier’s checks. All items seized are believed to be proceeds from illegal narcotics sales.
There were over 170 law enforcement personnel who assisted in the execution of the multiple search warrants and aided in the apprehension of the criminals identified in this investigation to include California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, FBI and DEA Monterey, California, State Parole, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Arizona Department of Public Safety, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, San Benito County Probation Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Yuma County Narcotics Task Force and the Yuma Police Department.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move.
HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.