Guatemalan Drug Lord Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez Arrested in San Diego on Cocaine Trafficking Charges

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:29:00 +0200

Federal authorities announced the arrest of Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, a 61-year-old Guatemalan national also known as Dan Dario or Molis, in San Diego. Prosecutors allege he led Los Huistas, one of the world's most prolific cocaine trafficking organizations based in northwest Guatemala near the Mexican border. The arrest stems from Operation Guerrilla Unit, a multi-year investigation involving the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. federal prosecutors in San Diego, and law enforcement partners in Guatemala and Mexico. Molina-Lopez was charged in a 2019 federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute cocaine intended for importation into the United States and conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel. He made his initial court appearance on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. In 2022, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 milli