Alleged Guatemalan Drug Kingpin With $10 Million Reward Arrested in San Diego

SAN DIEGO - Alleged Guatemalan drug kingpin Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, aka "Don Dario," who is accused of being the leader of a transnational criminal organization known as Los Huistas, has been arrested in San Diego. Molina-Lopez made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Los Huistas is a drug trafficking organization primarily based in the Huehuetenango region of Northwest Guatemala that borders Mexico and is engaged in a massive cocaine trafficking operation. Molina-Lopez was charged as part of Operation Guerrilla Unit, a multi-year investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), HSI Attaché Guatemala City, Guatemala, and the United States Attorney's Office in San Diego. The investigation targeted Molina-Lopez, the Los Huistas organization, and its suppliers. High-level cocaine traffickers were targeted in a massive probe involving multiple countries, multiple law enforcement agencies around the United States, and a number of federal districts.

The indictment returned on January 29, 2019, charges Molina-Lopez with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Intended for Unlawful Importation and Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel.

In March 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that it was offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Molina-Lopez. This award was offered under the U.S. Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP). More than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justice under the NRP and the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) since 1986. The Department has paid more than $135 million in rewards to date. The State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the NRP in close coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other U.S. government agencies.

Simultaneously in March 2022, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also designated the Los Huistas Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for drug trafficking that threatens the people and security of the United States and Guatemala.

"Cartel leaders don't get to write the end of their stories. We do," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. "And once again, the final chapter for a man alleged to be one of the world's most notorious and prolific cocaine traffickers is here in the Southern District of California."

"This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Homeland Security Task Force and our partnerships with agencies across the United States and Guatemala," said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego. "HSI and our law enforcement partners were able to dismantle a major transnational criminal organization responsible for trafficking massive quantities of cocaine and threatening the security of both nations. This operation underscores the importance of a whole-of-government approach and the relentless commitment of HSI and our partners to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law."

At Friday's hearing, the defendant entered a not guilty plea. A motion hearing/trial setting is scheduled for May 11, 2026, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.

DEFENDANT Case Number 19-cr-0327-DMS

Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez 61 Huehuetenango, Guatemala

aka "Don Dario,"
aka "Molis"

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Section 959, 960, 963
Criminal Forfeiture - Title 21, U.S.C., Section 853

Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel - Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503(b), 70506

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

HSI Attaché Guatemala City, Guatemala

HSI Attaché Mexico City Mexico

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

U.S. Coast Guard

Drug Enforcement Administration

Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs

Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations

Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)

U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

U.S. Department of State

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.