About one week ago, roughly 300 federal and local agents flooded Los Angeles’ iconic MacArthur Park and surrounding streets, launching a massive drug raid in multiple Southern California locations and arresting at least 17 people.
Among those arrested in this action were “Narco Queen” Mallaly Moreno-Lopez and her boyfriend.
US Attorney Bill Essayli just announced a second raid this week that led to 5 more arrests.
On the evening of Thursday, May 14, 2026, Rampart Narcotics Detectives conducted an operation along the 600 block of Alvarado across from MacArthur Park. Officers observed activity consistent with narcotics sales, which led to the detention of five individuals who were also employees of the businesses. During the investigation, fentanyl, prescription medication, and a large amount of U.S. currency were seized.Five suspects were arrested on state charges, while my office determines whether to bring federal charges with @DEALOSANGELESagainst these suspects.We will continue working with our law enforcement partners at LAPD and the DEA to combat narcotics sales and keep our communities safe in and around MacArthur Park.
Reports indicate that detectives observed activity consistent with narcotics sales before detaining these individuals, who were allegedly working inside nearby businesses.
During the investigation, officers seized fentanyl, prescription medication, and what officials described as a large amount of U.S. currency, according to a statement.All five suspects were booked on state charges, while federal prosecutors are now reviewing whether additional federal narcotics charges will be filed alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration.The arrests mark the latest chapter in an aggressive multi-agency crackdown surrounding MacArthur Park, which federal officials have increasingly described as one of Los Angeles’ most entrenched open-air drug markets.
However, it must be noted that free needles are being handed out to drug users in the same park. This was after embattled mayor Karen Bass distanced herself from the program after the first raid.
The California Post was there Tuesday and watched syringes being handed out in the middle of the neighborhood’s spiraling drug crisis. The chaos unfolding around MacArthur Park has become one of the biggest political flashpoints in Los Angeles.Residents and business owners say the area has spiraled into an open-air drug bazaar flooded with fentanyl, crack, meth and overdose emergencies.“It’s the third time she has lied,” property owner John Alle told the Post. Alle, one of the loudest critics of conditions surrounding the park said he’s tired of empty promises from Bass.“She told me at the park, with the chief standing next to me, she was against needle and drug pipe handouts. I asked her if I could quote her on that. She said, ‘I’m against it,’” Alle added.
Meanwhile, the California DOJ has been busy as well.
A long-term investigation led to the arrest of an alleged major fentanyl trafficker in Arcadia and the seizure of millions of potentially deadly doses of fentanyl, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday.“We have arrested another fentanyl trafficker who was poisoning our communities and profiting off addiction,” Bonta said in a statement.Authorities said the fentanyl haul amounted to an estimated 8.5 million potentially lethal doses with a street value of at least $1.3 million. They also seized 17 kilograms of powder fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, and a handgun during the operation.
If this week’s back-to-back raids prove anything, it’s that federal law enforcement clearly understands the scale of the crisis at MacArthur Park, even if local leadership chooses to ignore the scale of the disaster.
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