Feds bust Iraqi crime ring said to be selling IEDs to Mexican drug cartels
Federal law enforcement agents in San Diego arrested 60 people in connection with an Iraqi criminal ring with ties to Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa drug cartel.
The gang is accused of selling drugs, machine guns and improvised bombs (IEDs) out of a social club for Iraqi immigrants in El Cajon, Calif., a city of more than 90,000 located near the Mexican border.
According to the federal indictment, unsealed yesterday, the six-month investigation led to seizures of 34 firearms, including machine guns and semi-automatic assault rifles, four IEDs, 3,500 pounds of marijuana, 18 pounds of meth, and other drugs. A DEA operative was also shown a hand grenade by one of the Iraqis, and was told more could be purchased from a source in the Mexican military.
Officials said Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.
