16 Camp Pendleton Marines arrested on human smuggling and drug-related allegations

A convoy of 1st Marine Division Humvees at Camp Pendleton.
(Bill Wechter)


By ANDREW DYER
JULY 25, 2019 10:41 AM

Sixteen Marines were arrested at Camp Pendleton Thursday morning during battalion formation for various illegal activities ranging from human smuggling to drug-related offenses, the 1st Marine Division said in a statement.

The Marine Corps said information from a previous human smuggling investigation led to the arrests. On July 3, two Marines — Byron Darnell Law II and David Javier Salazar-Quintero — were arrested for allegedly transporting unauthorized immigrants as part of a smuggling operation.

Eight additional Marines were questioned about other alleged drug offenses unrelated to the arrests, the Marine Corps said.

Division officials and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service carried out the arrests. The 16 arrested range in rank from private first class to corporal, or E-2 to E-4, according to 1st Lt. Cameron Edinburgh, a division spokesman.

Names of the arrested Marines and details of the alleged offenses were not immediately released.


“1st Marine Division is committed to justice and the rule of law, and we will continue to fully cooperate with NCIS on this matter,” the statement says. “Any Marines found to be in connection with these alleged activities will be questioned and handled accordingly with respect to due process.”

The Union-Tribune will update this story as more information becomes available.

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