### Arrest of 10 Allies of “El Chapo Isidro” in the U.S. – Five From Mexicali
On March 20, 2025, authorities detained ten alleged members of a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking organization linked to Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, also known as “El Chapo Isidro.” This cartel has connections with the Beltrán Leyva Cartel in Sinaloa. These individuals are accused of importing and distributing over a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into the U.S., laundering illicit profits, and attempting to smuggle firearms from the U.S. to Mexico.
In a coordinated operation spanning California, Arizona, Iowa, and Colorado, over 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement agents arrested the ten suspects and executed six search warrants in Imperial County. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California continues to search for 12 other fugitives involved in this case.
Authorities have so far seized over 1,000 kilograms (approximately 2,204 pounds) of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and more than 750 kilograms (approximately 1,653 pounds) of fentanyl, as well as 10 firearms and over $250,000 in drug proceeds. The interim U.S. attorney, Andrew Haden, emphasized that dismantling this network prevents further devastation and violence in the community.
The organization in question operated between Mexicali, Mexico, and Imperial County as a distribution cell for the Beltrán Leyva Cartel. Through undercover operations and intercepted communications, law enforcement carried out numerous controlled purchases and seizures, leading to significant drug confiscations.
Federal agents also discovered weapons during their investigation, including two gold-plated AR-15 rifles hidden in a barbecue grill. Five of the arrested individuals have previous offenses related to immigration trafficking.
Those arrested from Mexicali include Irving Alberto López Valdés, Raúl Salomé Valdez Orduño, Jesús Damián Lizárraga Sánchez, Raúl MartÃnez Jiménez, and Alain Alejandro Robles-Murrieta.
**Secondary Article:**
### “El Chapo Isidro” Featured on FBI’s Most Wanted List
Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, alias “El Chapo Isidro,” a reputed leader of the Sinaloa-associated “Los Mazatlecos,” is currently listed among the FBI’s most wanted. He has been accused of conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana within the U.S., while also facing charges related to firearms possession.
The U.S. government has offered a bounty of up to $5 million for information leading to Meza Flores’ capture. His organization is known for its large-scale narcotics trafficking operations, distributing drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana mostly produced and trafficked from regions in Mexico like Sinaloa, Sonora, and parts of Nayarit.
Having previously been a major figure within the Beltrán Leyva network, Meza Flores broke away and allegedly became a key adversary of infamous drug lord JoaquÃn “El Chapo” Guzmán. Despite multiple legal hurdles, such as avoided detention orders and legal protections in Mexico, U.S. agencies continue their pursuit.
The U.S. Department of Treasury had previously frozen assets related to Meza Flores and his family back in 2013, further crippling his illicit financial operations. The concerted effort by U.S. authorities aims to dismantle these high-risk criminal networks that threaten national security.
The reward and continued international vigilance reflect the efforts deployed to capture a figure considered highly dangerous and capable of evading law enforcement, making him a prominent target in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.