Federal agents have apprehended 18 individuals in connection with a sprawling drug trafficking operation centered around Los Angeles' MacArthur Park. The sweep, dubbed "Operation Free MacArthur Park," targeted open-air drug markets and resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Authorities claim two individuals arrested are believed to be the primary suppliers fueling the drug trade in the park.
The investigation, spanning nearly six weeks from March 9 to April 15, documented 27 separate drug transactions involving fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around the park. Law enforcement agencies involved included the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division’s Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF) and the Los Angeles Police Department, comprising hundreds of personnel. Arrests also occurred in San Gabriel and Calabasas, with multiple search warrants executed across Southern California.
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Among those arrested are Yolanda Iriarte-Avila, 40, of Calabasas, identified as a source of methamphetamine supplied through her boyfriend, Jesus Morales-Landel, 33, of the Exposition Park area. Morales-Landel is alleged to be a street-level dealer operating in MacArthur Park. The complaint further details that a residence in Westmont served as a stash location for illegal drugs before their distribution in the park. Seven individuals remain at large.
MacArthur Park, a densely populated immigrant neighborhood, has been described as an area with heavily contested gang territory, frequently frequented by homeless individuals. This operation follows a previous, notable law enforcement presence in the park last summer. Officials indicated that surveillance of the area for drug activity will continue, and further operations are not ruled out.
