Federal authorities dismantled two major drug trafficking organizations, one with ties to the notorious Sinaloa Drug Cartel, resulting in the indictment of 25 people.
The groups were operating extensive fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operations, primarily out of an auto body shop in Martinsburg, WV, according to a federal grand jury indictment announced by U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld.
The investigation, which began in 2023 as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, found the drugs were being imported from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service and from a source directly connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The operation led to the indictment of 18 people, including Saul Alexi Padilla-Garcia, 34, of Shepherdstown, WV, who is alleged to have played a key role in coordinating the trafficking activities. The group reportedly managed to bring significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine into West Virginia.
Federal law enforcement agents are still searching for Manuel Sanchez Gomez and Olvin Luis-Melendez Robles.
In a related case, seven more individuals were indicted after investigators seized nearly 40,000 fentanyl pills and 12 firearms earlier this year in Berkeley County. The defendants in this case were found to have been operating a stash house in Martinsburg where they stored drugs and weapons. Six of the individuals have been taken into custody, while authorities are still searching for Jwan Martine Smith.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals and local police departments across several states.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is leading the prosecution for the government.
