Ten charged in California jail drug smuggling scheme

Ten people have been charged in a scheme to smuggle drugs into a California jail. They reportedly hid the drugs in body cavities and would get arrested to bring them inside. Federal authorities made the announcement on March 21. Three of the accused were arrested on that day, while the other seven were already in custody. The drugs included fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated that drug smuggling into jails has led to increased deaths and medical emergencies among inmates. The sheriff's department coordinated with the FBI during the investigation. The scheme was reportedly led by 46-year-old Andrew Jesus Ayala. He worked with a street gang and coordinated with others already in custody to smuggle drugs. The operation involved recruiting individuals willing to hide drugs in their bodies. They even set up temporary housing for these "drug mules" before and after they were arrested. Authorities learned about the plan through phone calls that were intercepted. The traffickers aimed to avoid detection by X-ray machines. However, in late 2022, a defendant tried to smuggle nearly 2 ounces of meth, which was detected when he was brought into custody. Prosecutors reported that members of the scheme discussed smuggling fentanyl-laced pills that could be sold for much higher prices inside the jail. All ten defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a minimum five-year prison sentence and a maximum of 40 years. Nine of the defendants also face additional charges related to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.