Four Family Members Arrested in Large Drug Bust Tied to Sinaloa Cartel in Los Angeles

Four Family Members Arrested in Federal Drug Trafficking Indictment

LOS ANGELES – A family-run criminal organization with connections to the Sinaloa Cartel has been disrupted following the arrest of four members in Los Angeles County on Tuesday. According to the Department of Justice, the group is accused of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and unregistered firearms known as "ghost guns."

Federal prosecutors have charged five individuals in total, with four being apprehended during the recent operation. The defendants include José Luis Salazar-Cruz, 44; Alfonso Salazar, 46; José Manuel Salazar, 22, all residents of Lancaster, along with Jorge Humberto Salazar, 43, from Hesperia.

Documents from the indictment reveal that Salazar-Cruz led the sales operations while his relatives engaged with suppliers and handled cash transactions with customers. Besides narcotics, the group allegedly marketed a variety of firearms, including a "street-sweeper" device and an AR-style gun lacking a serial number.

Prosecutors argue that this operation served as a significant pipeline for drugs sourced from the cartel into the Antelope Valley region.

Authorities are currently seeking a fifth suspect, José Ángel López Paniagua, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Paniagua is implicated in facilitating the drug exchanges between the cartel and the Salazar family, reportedly acquiring narcotics from cartel members situated in Tijuana and Mexicali.

The trafficking conspiracy reportedly began in February 2024, focusing initially on methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution before expanding into illegal firearm sales by December 2024.

A timeline outlines several key developments:

• February 2024: Trafficking activities begin.
• December 2024 – July 2025: The group allegedly extends operations to include illegal gun sales.
• May 2025: Salazar-Cruz is reported to have acknowledged to a buyer that drugs were smuggled from Mexico.
• December 2025: The last documented drug transactions occur.
• April 14, 2026: Four family members are arrested.

The defendants are scheduled for arraignment in Los Angeles federal court this week, with potential sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment if convicted. Meanwhile, multi-agency efforts continue to locate José Ángel López Paniagua, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the DEA investigate the group’s firearm manufacturing and distribution network.