Notorious Drug Kingpin Arrested in County

Federal agents arrested alleged Guatemalan drug kingpin Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez in San Diego, and he appeared in federal court on Friday, April 24. (justice.gov) The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Molina-Lopez, known as “Don Dario,” led Los Huistas, a transnational criminal organization based in Guatemala’s Huehuetenango region near the Mexican border. (justice.gov 1) (justice.gov 2) Prosecutors said Los Huistas imported cocaine from South America into Guatemala, then coordinated shipments of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into the United States with Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa cartel. (justice.gov) (state.gov) The arrest puts new life into a San Diego federal case unsealed in March 2022, when prosecutors charged Molina-Lopez with international cocaine distribution conspiracy and related narcotics counts. (justice.gov) The State Department had offered up to $10 million for information leading to Molina-Lopez’s arrest or conviction under its Narcotics Rewards Program. (state.gov 1) (state.gov 2) The 2022 indictment said Molina-Lopez used corrupt officials, armed security and money laundering to protect Los Huistas’ trafficking routes in northwestern Guatemala. (justice.gov) (state.gov) U.S. officials said Monday’s announcement could lead to more prosecutions as investigators work through evidence tied to the organization’s U.S.-bound shipments and financial network. (justice.gov) Molina-Lopez is now in federal custody in the Southern District of California, where the San Diego case that first named him four years ago is moving again. (justice.gov)