Three foreign nationals arrested in record $5.5M meth bust near US-Mexico border

• Federal authorities seized nearly four tons of meth worth $5.5 million near the U.S.-Mexico border, the largest meth bust in Southern California this year.
• Three foreign nationals were arrested transferring 61 drug bundles from a semi-truck to smaller vehicles, facing mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years.
• The operation was led by President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force San Diego, targeting cartel-driven drug trafficking under a new executive order.
• The 7,700-pound haul could have supplied millions of lethal doses, highlighting the escalating scale of cartel operations and meth-related deaths.
• Critics stress the need for stronger border security as the bust exposes links between illegal immigration and cartel activity.

Federal authorities arrested three foreign nationals this week after intercepting nearly four tons of methamphetamine worth $5.5 million just three miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The bust, which is the largest meth seizure of 2025 in Southern California so far, marks a critical milestone for President Trump’s newly established Homeland Security Task Force San Diego, a direct response to the escalating crisis of cartel-driven narcotics trafficking.

The defendants—Erick Arriola, 27, of El Salvador, and Mexican nationals Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes, 49, and Eugenio Lizama, 35—were caught red-handed transferring 61 bundles of meth from a semi-truck to smaller vehicles in a San Diego parking lot. All three now face federal charges carrying mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years.

A coordinated takedown

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, surveillance teams observed the men loading the drugs into two white panel vans and a Ford F150 truck on June 2 before splitting up to evade detection. Two vehicles headed to a San Ysidro motel; the third drove to Chula Vista. Border Patrol agents swiftly apprehended them, recovering 7,704 pounds of meth, which is more than enough to fuel addiction and violence in communities across America.

Arriola is a convicted felon with prior offenses including DUI and domestic violence, highlighting the alarming pattern of criminal exploitation at the border.

The operation was spearheaded by Homeland Security Task Force San Diego, created under President Trump’s January 2025 executive order, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” The order mandates a nationwide crackdown on cartels and human traffickers, leveraging joint efforts between the DOJ and DHS.

“Cases under the HSTF will be a priority,” vowed Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for the task force, emphasizing its mission to dismantle networks engaged in drug trafficking, kidnapping, and weapons smuggling. The seizure aligns with Operation Take Back America, a DOJ initiative to “achieve the total elimination of cartels.”

A growing epidemic

The sheer volume of meth, at 7,700 pounds, reflects the escalating scale of cartel operations. For perspective, the DEA estimates just two pounds of meth can yield up to 3,000 doses. This haul could have supplied millions of lethal hits, fueling overdose deaths and societal decay.

Authorities noted the drugs were likely destined for U.S. cities, where meth-related fatalities have surged 58% since 2019. The bust disrupts a key supply chain, but critics argue more must be done to secure the border. “When we combine our unique capabilities, authorities, strengths, and assets, we create a unified response to the expansive cartel threat,” said FBI Acting Special Agent Houtan Moshrefi.

The defendants face life sentences if convicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin, part of the newly formed Narcoterrorism Unit, will lead the prosecution. The case underscores the effectiveness of Trump’s task force model, which pools resources from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and local sheriffs.

San Diego Sheriff’s Lieutenant Michael Gonzales confirmed the investigation remains active, suggesting further arrests may follow. The seizure also exposes the role of illegal immigration in facilitating cartel activity; all three suspects were noncitizens, with Arriola unlawfully present despite his violent record.

This historic bust sends a clear message: Federal authorities are prioritizing border security and cartel disruption. Yet the staggering quantity of meth seized raises urgent questions about the volume still slipping through. As transnational gangs grow bolder, the success of Task Force San Diego offers a blueprint for defending American communities, but only if sustained by political will. For now, the $5.5 million loss deals a blow to cartel profits, proving that collaboration, not open borders, is the path to safety.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

FoxNews.com

Justice.gov

SDSheriff.gov