Federal agents arrested 18 suspects and seized nearly 19 kilograms of fentanyl during a sweeping operation centered on MacArthur Park. The crackdown highlights growing concerns over fentanyl trafficking, gang activity, and overdose deaths affecting Latino communities across Los Angeles.
Federal agents in Los Angeles carried out a major anti drug crackdown this week targeting alleged fentanyl trafficking networks connected to MacArthur Park, an area long associated with open air narcotics sales and gang activity.
The raid, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department, focused mainly on MacArthur Park but also included arrests in Calabasas, San Gabriel, and South Los Angeles, according to the DEA.
The Department of Justice announced that 18 suspects were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges. The criminal complaint names 25 defendants accused of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. Seven additional suspects remain at large.
During the operation, agents seized nearly 19 kilograms of fentanyl valued between $8 million and $10 million. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said investigators believe the drugs are linked to the Sinaloa cartel.
“This is not a one and done operation. We are here, and we are not leaving. We have 300 law enforcement personnel on this operation, and they are not going anywhere, and we’ve got bigger guns than the gangsters,” Essayli said.
Drug use and trafficking have become some of the most pressing concerns for residents, activists, and politicians in Los Angeles.
“We are aware of the joint LAPD and DEA operation that occurred in MacArthur Park and other areas of Los Angeles today, and we are closely monitoring the situation,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernández, whose district includes MacArthur Park.
“Fentanyl has devastated too many families, and the scale of this crisis demands a coordinated, multipronged response focused on investment and long term stability for the area. I will continue working with our city partners to fund housing, outreach, treatment access, and the revitalization of the park this neighborhood deserves,” she added.
The Alleged “Narco Queen” and the Expanding Fentanyl Investigation
Among those arrested was Mallaly Moreno Lopez, whom authorities described as a highly effective midlevel figure in the alleged fentanyl distribution network. According to the New York Post, the raids were part of “Operation Free MacArthur Park,” an effort targeting suspected dealers and gang connected associates across Southern California.
Women have long been part of the drug trafficking narrative, especially since the rise of “La Reina del Sur,” the infamous figure whose ties to the Sinaloa cartel inspired books and television adaptations.
Authorities believe this latest seizure could have an immediate impact on drug sales and consumption around MacArthur Park.
Here are five key things to know about Moreno Lopez and the allegations against her:
1. She was arrested during a DEA raid
Moreno Lopez was taken into custody after nearly two dozen DEA agents raided her South Los Angeles apartment Wednesday morning, according to the New York Post.
Authorities said agents forced their way through a reinforced steel door after she and her boyfriend allegedly ignored repeated commands to come outside.
2.Authorities describe her as a key distributor
Federal officials allege Moreno Lopez acted as a liaison between cartel suppliers and lower level fentanyl dealers operating around MacArthur Park.
Investigators said she and her boyfriend, Jackson Tarfur, allegedly helped move drugs into downtown Los Angeles.
3.She allegedly tried to destroy evidence
According to authorities cited by the New York Post, Moreno Lopez and Tarfur allegedly attempted to dispose of fentanyl during the raid by flushing baggies of the drug down a toilet.
Officials said it appeared to be a last minute attempt to prevent agents from recovering narcotics inside the apartment.
4.Her family has appeared in earlier gang investigations
The New York Post reported that Moreno Lopez’s mother was also arrested earlier this year during a separate operation targeting alleged 18th Street Gang leader Keiko Gonzalez, also known as “Moms.”
Federal authorities have repeatedly investigated gang linked drug operations connected to the MacArthur Park area throughout the year.
5.She is tied to a broader fentanyl crackdown
Authorities said Moreno Lopez was among 25 individuals named in the federal complaint tied to the larger MacArthur Park fentanyl investigation.
Officials say the operation aims to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain fueling addiction and overdose deaths across Los Angeles.
