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

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.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...ted-activities

Pentagon to send 2,100 additional troops to Mexican border

The Latest: 19 Troops Arrested in Migrant Smuggling Case

Officials say a total of 19 service members have been arrested at a California Marine Corps base in connection with a migrant smuggling scandal.

By Associated Press, Wire Service Content July 26, 2019, at 6:41 p.m. More


The Latest: 19 Troops Arrested in Migrant Smuggling Case



FILE - This Nov. 13, 2013 file photo shows the main gate of Camp Pendleton Marine Base at Camp Pendleton, Calif. A human smuggling investigation by the military led to the arrest of 16 Marines Thursday, July 25, 2019 while carrying out a battalion formation at California's Camp Pendleton, a base about an hour's drive from the U.S.-Mexico border. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN DIEGO (AP) — 3:30 p.m.

Officials say a total of 19 service members have been arrested at a California Marine Corps base in connection with a migrant smuggling scandal.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service said Friday that those arrested at Camp Pendleton include 18 Marines and one sailor, a Navy corpsman, who all serve in the same unit.

They are accused of various crimes ranging from migrant smuggling to drug-related offenses.

The case of two Marines arrested earlier this month and charged with migrant smuggling led to additional arrests.

Both are riflemen in the same unit. They have pleaded not guilty.

U.S. Border Patrol agents say smugglers lure people with offers of quick cash if they drive migrants through a heavily secured US border zone near San Diego.

____

11:32 a.m.

An investigation has led to the arrest of 16 Marines following an investigation into human smuggling.

The Marine Corps said the arrests at Camp Pendleton, California, were carried out during a battalion formation Thursday morning at the base, north of San Diego. It is about 55 miles (90 kilometers) from the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Marine Corps said in a news release that information gained after two Marines were arrested on human smuggling charges earlier this summer led to the arrests.

Officials say the Marines are accused of various illegal activities ranging from human smuggling to drug-related offenses.

Another eight are being questioned about their alleged involvement in drug offense as part of a separate investigation.

The military says none of the Marines were involved in helping to enforce border security.
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/artic...smuggling-case

UPDATE

"NCIS says 20 Marines and a sailor are under arrest for human smuggling and drug-related allegations."

Twenty-four members of the California-based 1st Marine Division have faced judicial or administrative action over human-smuggling or drug-related offenses associated with arrests made during a July battalion formation, Maj. Kendra Motz, a spokeswoman for the unit, told Military.com.

16 hours ago

www.military.com › News › Headlines

24 California Marines Kicked Out Over Smuggling and Drug Charges