EUGENE, Ore. — A coordinated drug-interdiction effort along Interstate 5 led to a major narcotics seizure and the arrest of two Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States who are suspected of trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine into Lane County.
The Eugene Police Department said the Nov. 11 operation stemmed from an ongoing Street Crimes Unit investigation into two individuals living in the 1400 block of Railroad Boulevard. Detectives believed the pair had been making repeated trips to California to bring back 50 to 80 pounds of methamphetamine at a time.
After the suspects reportedly traveled south once again, the case expanded across state lines. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the suspects’ vehicle was in the area based on information provided by Eugene investigators, helping narrow the timeline for their return trip.
As the vehicle headed north on I-5 toward Lane County, members of EPD’s Street Crimes Unit, Eugene Police Investigations, and an Oregon State Police K9 interdiction team moved into position near Cottage Grove. A drug-detection dog alerted officers during the traffic stop, prompting investigators to obtain a judge-approved warrant to search the vehicle.
Inside, authorities reported finding approximately 73 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated wholesale value of about $50,000, along with more than $1,000 in cash. Officers later executed follow-up searches at three properties connected to the suspects, uncovering additional cash and what police described as evidence of drug manufacturing and distribution.
The two individuals — 45-year-old Alejandra Diaz-Alcantar and 41-year-old Juan Alberto Alvarado-Gonzalez, identified by federal authorities as Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States — were arrested and booked into the Lane County Jail. Both face charges of unlawful delivery and unlawful possession of methamphetamine in substantial quantity. Police also noted the driver was cited for misdemeanor driving while suspended.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges or federal review may follow depending on the results of the broader inquiry.
This case marks one of the larger methamphetamine seizures in Lane County this year, highlighting continued collaboration between local and out-of-state law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking routes along Interstate 5.
