3 drug cartel members were arrested after 4 bricks of fish scale cocaine were found in Pineville
On October 17, 2026 Ovando Gutierrez-Pacheco, Antonio Santos-Gonzales, and Efrain Torres-Mejia were arrested in Pineville, NC during a multi kilogram cocaine drug bust. The men were in a latino drug cartel.
Antonio Santos-Gonzales, Ovando Gutierrez-Pacheco, and Efrain Torres-Mejia
The drug bust was on October 16, 2026 the Pineville Police Department worked alongside Homeland Security Investigations and Homeland Security Task Force Officers during a narcotics trafficking investigation.
During the investigation, officers conducted traffic stops on two vehicles connected to the case. A police dog conducted an open air sniff of both vehicles. The dog alerted to drugs in the cars.
2 kilograms of cocaine and a Glock 17L handgun were found. The investigation also led agents and officers to an apartment complex where an additional 2 kilograms of cocaine and nine guns were found.
The suspects were arrested charged with drug trafficking related charges.
