Two arrested after drugs and money found to be connected to the Mexican cartel

3 hours ago

DJ Beal,

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GASTONIA, N.C. – Gastonia Police have arrested two individuals after drugs and money connected to the Mexican cartel were seized.

Gastonia Police Detectives received intelligence from Louisiana law enforcement partners identifying Sergio Martinez as a large-scale drug trafficker. Investigators executed a search warrant on Tuesday, September 29th at Martinez’s home in Gastonia.

Six kilos of fentanyl in brick form worth $750,000 and more than $100,000 in illegal drug proceeds were seized. Detectives disrupted the flow of illegal drug money that was on its way back to a Mexican cartel.

Sergio Martinez–Avalos, 50, has been charged with two counts of level three trafficking, one count of money laundering, one count of maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for a controlled substance, immigration hold/illegal. Martinez–Avalos also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Los Angeles.

Karina Mondragon–Gamino, 36, has been charged with two counts of level three trafficking, one count of money laundering, one county of maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for a controlled substance and immigration hold/illegal.