United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LAS VEGAS – On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Las Vegas District Office, DEA Fresno Resident Office and the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program concluded a multiple month-long investigation of a major narcotic trafficking organization with the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of a large amount of illegal synthetic drugs and firearms.

Special Agents from the DEA and investigators assigned to the Tulare County HIDTA conducted an investigation into Martel Rivera Jr., 35, of Exeter, CA. The investigation revealed that Rivera Jr. was responsible for distributing bulk quantities of methamphetamine and suspected fentanyl pills in California and Las Vegas, NV.

On March 22, 2022, agents from the DEA in Las Vegas, along with assistance from investigators assigned to the Tulare County HIDTA arrested Rivera Jr. and three of his co-conspirators while attempting to conduct the sale of bulk quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl laced pills in Las Vegas, NV.  The other suspects arrested were Moses Rivera, 37, of Woodlake, CA; Joshua Rivera, 26 of Exeter, CA; and Tyler Rogers, 29, of Woodlake, CA. In conjunction with the arrests, investigators seized approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills and approximately 63 pounds of methamphetamine from one of the cars the suspects had arrived in.

In addition, Tulare Country HIDTA executed multiple search warrants at locations associated to some of the subjects arrested in Las Vegas; ultimately resulting in seizures of large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, miscellaneous pills and several firearms.

Rivera Jr. had his initial appearance on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 and Moses Rivera will have his appearance on Friday, March 25, 2022. The other two individuals were released. This remains an on-going investigation.

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Los Angeles Field Division is the 2nd largest division in DEA and responsible for the seven largest counties in Southern California—Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, as well as the states of Nevada (Las Vegas/Reno), and Hawaii (Oahu/Maui), and the U. S. Territories of Guam and Saipan.