ICE San Diego investigation leads to arraignment of 3 fugitives transferred from Mexico
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Following an ICE San Diego investigation, three fugitives transferred from Mexico — Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, also known as Flaquito; Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum, also known as El Chavo Felix; and Abdul Karim Conteh — appeared in federal court in the Southern District of California Aug. 13. They face charges including drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering. Huerta Nuno and Felix Gastelum are linked to major cartel operations, while Conteh allegedly led a global human smuggling network.
The arrests, which were part of Operation Take Back America, involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.
The defendants face significant prison sentences if convicted.
“Cartel-driven drug trafficking poses a threat to the safety of our communities,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. “The capture of Pabo Edwin Huerta-Nuno is one step forward in our united effort to dismantle these criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.”
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