Authorities arrested an alleged drug kingpin last week in San Diego after the State Department had issued a $10 million reward for his capture, accusing the man of orchestrating the sale of nearly 4 tons of cocaine.
Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, also known by the nickname “Don Dario,” was arrested in San Diego and made his first appearance in court on Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Molina-Lopez is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel and international conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. He pleaded not guilty.
Molina-Lopez is accused of being a leader of a Guatemalan criminal organization known as Los Huistas, which is based in a region of the country that borders Mexico. Federal authorities alleged that Molina-Lopez was involved in trafficking nearly four tons of cocaine across multiple shipments.
The State Department issued a $10 million reward in 2022 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Molina-Lopez, saying that the 62-year-old has “a well-established network of drug traffickers across Mexico who are eager to purchase bulk quantities of cocaine from him.” Vice News reported that same year that Los Huistas is a primary supplier for the Sinaloa Cartel and the New Generation Jalisco Cartel, Mexico’s two largest drug cartels, although the outlet called the Guatemalan group a “little-known cartel.”
Kelly Thornton, a spokesperson for the United States Attorney’s Office, declined to comment on how authorities detained Molina-Lopez. A federal court record indicates he was arrested on April 23.