Three Mexican Nationals Arrested for Dealing Meth out of Glendale Apartment

Three Mexican nationals, Mariano Gomez Padilla, Eduardo Garcia Lopez, and Abel Martinez Valenzuela, working out of Glendale, have been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

According to the Department of Justice, on September 17, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force agents established surveillance at an apartment complex in Glendale, in anticipation of an expected methamphetamine drug purchase. From the complex, agents followed Gomez Padilla and Garcia Lopez as they drove in tandem to another location in Glendale.

During the drive, agents attempted to stop the suspects’ vehicles, but both drivers failed to yield. Instead, Garcia Lopez exited his vehicle and fled but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Gomez Padilla also failed to yield to law enforcement and instead rammed his vehicle into one of the agent’s cars as well as two other vehicles parked on the street, causing significant damage. Shortly thereafter, Gomez Padilla and Martinez Valenzuela, who was riding as a passenger in Gomez Padilla’s vehicle, were also apprehended after trying to flee on foot.

Agents searched the vehicles and seized approximately 61.75 pounds of methamphetamine from the car that Garcia Lopez had been driving. Agents also searched a nearby Ford F-250 associated with the investigation and seized an additional 71.75 pounds of methamphetamine, which was packed identically to the drugs found in Garcia Lopez’s car.

Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 grams or More of Methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration and achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).