PHOENIX, Ariz. — Heriberto Lopez-Landeros, 44, of Avondale, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The sentencing, delivered last week by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan, marks the end of a sweeping investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization.
Lopez-Landeros, identified as the head of the operation, orchestrated the importation of significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin from Mexico into the United States. He recruited semi-truck drivers to transport the drugs, often concealing them inside the cabs of the trucks as they traveled across the country.
Over an 18-month investigation, law enforcement seized multiple large drug shipments tied to Lopez-Landeros, including:
- 83 kilograms of methamphetamine,
- 12 kilograms of fentanyl, and
- 645 grams of heroin.
Targeting High-Level Criminal Networks
The investigation was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a federal initiative focused on dismantling high-level drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. Using a multi-agency approach, OCDETF leverages federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to target criminal networks threatening the U.S.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Avondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan McCarthy prosecuted the case.
This sentencing underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking operations and ensuring the safety of communities nationwide.
