LOS ANGELES, CA – California law enforcement officials have arrested three individuals and recovered more than $55 million worth of narcotics—including enough fentanyl to kill every resident of Los Angeles County—in what authorities are calling one of the most significant drug busts in recent memory.
Announced during a joint press conference Tuesday by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, the operation was the result of a long-term investigation led by the California Department of Justice in collaboration with the Downey Police Department. The investigation culminated in the seizure of an extensive arsenal of illegal narcotics and trafficking equipment, and the arrests of three suspects with alleged ties to organized crime.
Among the drugs recovered were 20 kilograms of powdered fentanyl, five kilograms of heroin, 10 pounds of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, and nearly 12 pounds of opium. Authorities also seized narcotics packaging materials, two firearm suppressors, and ammunition. Bonta noted that indicia of a Mexican cartel were discovered during the investigation, although he did not elaborate further on any specific ties to transnational criminal organizations.
The drugs were found on January 22 during a targeted operation involving a traffic stop and a subsequent search of a Downey apartment. Downey police officers had initially stopped a vehicle driven by Priscilla Gomez, one of the suspects now facing federal custody. A narcotics-sniffing dog alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. That stop, officials said, led them to a larger cache of narcotics hidden in the nearby apartment.
Authorities estimate that the fentanyl alone—approximately 50 pounds—carried a street value of up to $1.3 million and had the potential to cause fatal overdoses on a massive scale. “This one seizure could have killed literally every resident in L.A. County by itself,” said Hochman. Fentanyl remains the leading cause of death in accidental overdoses across Los Angeles County, which recorded thousands of fentanyl-related fatalities in recent years.
The arrested suspects have been identified as:
- Carlos Manuel Mariscal, of Huntington Park, charged with two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, and one count of possession of a firearm suppressor.
- Priscilla Gomez, of Torrance, faces three counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance and one count of transportation of a controlled substance for sale. She is currently in federal custody.
- Gustavo Omar Gomez, Priscilla’s brother, also of Huntington Park, faces two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance.
Investigators believe Mariscal played a leading role in the organization, with the Gomez siblings allegedly operating as part of the trafficking network. According to Bonta, Priscilla Gomez acted as a courier and had “reliable information” linking her to the narcotics recovered.
Authorities emphasized the urgency of continued enforcement efforts as the fentanyl epidemic escalates. In 2023, the California Department of Justice launched the Fentanyl Enforcement Program, deploying teams in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Dublin to disrupt fentanyl trafficking and prevent overdose deaths. This case, officials said, exemplifies the program’s impact.
Downey Police Chief Scott Loughner called the bust “a decisive step in disrupting the flow of deadly narcotics,” and credited the multi-agency collaboration with removing dangerous substances from the streets. “These drugs ravage the very foundation of our communities,” he said. “Every time we take deadly drugs like fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved.”
District Attorney Hochman echoed those remarks. “We will be unrelenting in our pursuit to end this tragedy and bring justice to the countless families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl.”
All three defendants face significant prison sentences if convicted. Mariscal could receive up to 31 years and eight months in state prison; Priscilla Gomez, 28 years and eight months; and Gustavo Gomez, 24 years.
A preliminary hearing for Mariscal and Gustavo Gomez is scheduled for March 20. Prosecutors say the investigation remains active and have not ruled out additional arrests.
