PHOENIX — Heriberto Lopez-Landeros, 44, of Avondale, Arizona, was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison for his role as the leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for importing and distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin across the United States.
Lopez-Landeros pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in August 2024. Investigators linked him to a sophisticated operation that smuggled drugs from Mexico into the United States and used semi-truck drivers to transport the drugs. Drivers hid the narcotics inside the cabs of their trucks while traveling to various destinations nationwide.
During the 18-month investigation, authorities seized large quantities of drugs connected to Lopez-Landeros, including 83 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 kilograms of fentanyl, and 645 grams of heroin. The operation was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which targets high-level criminal networks.
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.