![\"11](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bnr9bw5q9whkweyz.jpg\")
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LOS ANGELES – A sprawling criminal empire<\/a> that flooded the East Coast with lethal drug combinations has been dismantled following a years-long international investigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n What we know:<\/p>\n Federal prosecutors have charged 11 individuals in a five-count indictment for operating a sophisticated narcotics network between January 2023 and April 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n The organization specialized in “sexchem,” a dangerous mixture of methamphetamine and GBL (gamma-butyrolactone), an industrial solvent that the body converts into a potent “date rape” drug.\u00a0<\/p>\n The ring used encrypted apps and shell beauty companies to move bulk quantities of drugs through commercial mail services like UPS and USPS.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the final takedown, law enforcement seized over 35 kilograms of high-purity meth and 800 kilograms of GBL in the U.S. alone.<\/p>\n What we don’t know:<\/p>\n While eleven primary defendants have been named and charged, it is not yet clear if the five South Korean nationals arrested by local authorities will be extradited to the U.S.<\/p>\n SUGGESTED: Feds: 18 arrested, $10M worth of fentanyl seized in massive MacArthur Park drug raid<\/a><\/p>\n The full extent of the “well-educated operatives” recruited by the organization has not been detailed, nor has the total amount of money laundered through the sham beauty companies been publicly finalized.<\/p>\n GBL seized by investigators in Seoul, South Korea. \/ DOJ <\/p>\n Timeline:<\/p>\n January 2023: The drug trafficking conspiracy begins operations along the Northeast Corridor.March 2024: Matthew Thomas Kent is arrested in Maryland with 480 grams of methamphetamine.September 2025: Bilateral cooperation leads to the seizure of 1.5 metric tons of GBL in South Korea.February 2026: CBP intercepts a parcel with six kilograms of GBL destined for a D.C. apartment.April 29, 2026: Law enforcement executes search warrants across eight federal districts, arresting eight defendants.May 7, 2026: Final arrests of California-based suppliers are made, and the indictment is unsealed. <\/p>\n What they’re saying:<\/p>\n U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro characterized the organization as a “sophisticated drug trafficking empire” that “flooded our streets with two of the most dangerous and lethal drug combinations available.”\u00a0<\/p>\n DEA Special Agent Christopher Goumenis noted that the investigation was spurred by a “fatal poisoning of a DMV resident,” emphasizing that the traffickers “only care about making a profit.”\u00a0<\/p>\n SUGGESTED: 350 pounds of meth, guns seized as Ventura County task force busts Mexico smuggling ring<\/a><\/p>\n Eric Weindorf of HSI added that the operation “traced the supply chain from an international parcel to a local distributor, and ultimately to a broader transnational criminal organization.”<\/p>\n What you can do:<\/p>\n The DEA and local law enforcement urge residents to remain vigilant regarding “club drugs” and “sexchem” combinations.\u00a0<\/p>\n SUGGESTED: Over a ton of meth seized during search of California drug lab, five arrested<\/a><\/p>\n If you have information regarding suspected drug trafficking or illegal shipments in your neighborhood, you can submit anonymous tips to the DEA via their official website <\/a>or contact local law enforcement.<\/p>\n The Source: This report is based on a federal indictment returned in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and official statements from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.<\/p>\n Crime and Public Safety<\/a>Los Angeles<\/a>California<\/a>U.S.<\/a>World<\/a>Instastories<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES – A sprawling criminal empire that flooded the East Coast with lethal drug combinations has 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