HSI San Diego, FBI investigation results in foreign nationals charged with international drug trafficking

SAN DIEGO — Three indictments were unsealed in the District of Columbia Dec. 8 charging five Mexican nationals with international heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego led the investigation of Jose Gil Caro Quintero; the FBI’s Washington field office is investigating the additional members of the same drug trafficking organization.

“Today’s announcement sends a clear message that HSI and our law enforcement partners will use all available measures to investigate and dismantle transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) responsible for the smuggling, transportation and distribution of narcotics and illicit proceeds — wherever they attempt to operate,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “HSI San Diego’s sophisticated and global investigation demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to disrupting this TCO’s criminal activities.”

As alleged in court documents, Caro Quintero aka Pelo Chino and El Chino, conspired to import large quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States from 1994 to January 2022. Francisco Abraham Flores Ortiz aka Panchito and two now-deceased co-conspirators allegedly conspired to import large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the United States from January 2008 to January 2018. Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe aka Salgado and Musico allegedly conspired to import large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States from January 2009 to December 2015.

Caro Quintero, Flores Ortiz and Gastelum Iribe are all charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States. Gastelum Iribe is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. If convicted, Caro Quintero and Flores Ortiz face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in prison and statutory maximum penalties of life in prison. Gastelum Iribe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison.

This case is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

Trial attorneys Kate Naseef and Samantha Thompson of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the cases with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Kyle Martin in Caro Quintero’s case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The targets of today’s action are part of a multiagency effort between HSI, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It includes targets of an HSI Homeland Criminal Organization Target (HOMECORT) case. HOMECORT cases consist of the top transnational criminal networks as determined by HSI Joint Task Force-Investigations.

HSI is 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 more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.