Feds Target Street Dealers In Massive Drug Bust

Feds swarmed MacArthur Park near downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, executing a massive drug bust and taking an alleged narco queen into custody.

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, announced Operation Free MacArthur Park in a post shared via X, explaining that agents were targeting what amounted to an “open-air drug marketplace.”

Operation Free MacArthur Park

Federal agents have taken control of MacArthur Park to execute federal arrest and search warrants targeting the notorious open-air drug market there.

We are going after street dealers and suppliers of massive amounts of fentanyl and… pic.twitter.com/sozcSCGo5u

— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) May 6, 2026

“We are going after street dealers and suppliers of massive amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Over the last 24 hours, federal and local law enforcement have started arresting 25 defendants charged in a federal criminal complaint with possessing and distributing dangerous narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine,” Essayli added. “The park’s #1 drug trafficker, a Calabasas resident, is in federal custody and faces possible life imprisonment. The other defendants arrested today also face decades in federal prison.”

The New York Post gave additional details on the bust, reporting that Drug Enforcement Agency officers had also conducted a raid on the home shared by Mallaly Moreno-Lopez, a known “narco queen,” and her boyfriend Jackson Tarfur. After surrounding the suspected stash house, they called the occupants to come outside. When no one did so, officers crashed through the door  — and DEA officers reported finding occupants attempting to flush narcotics down the toilet at the time of the raid. Both Moreno-Lopezand Darfur were taken into custody.

Video taken at the scene showed just how massive the operation was.

BREAKING: Major drug bust taking place right now across from LA’s MacArthur Park. pic.twitter.com/tsCNh9UxmK

— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) May 6, 2026

Dr. Mehmet Oz, serving in President Donald Trump’s administration as the 17th administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, commented on the amount of fentanyl that was seized: “MacArthur Park has become a cemetery. The thought that 190,000 doses of Fentanyl was seized should scare you. Fentanyl is used in the operating room, before you know it you can’t breathe but fortunately we’re there with a tube.”

Dr. OZ: MaCarthur Park has become a cemetery. The thought that 190,000 doses of Fentanyl was seized should scare you. Fentanyl is used in the operating room, before you know it you can’t breathe but fortunately we’re there with a tube …. @DrOz pic.twitter.com/OMIb9CjSae

— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) May 6, 2026

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the joint operation, including both DEA officers and members of the Los Angeles Police Department, saying that they’d succeeded in wresting control of MacArthur Park from the drug dealers.

“To the drug dealers poisoning the streets of Los Angeles: your safe haven is gone,” he said.

Agents from @DEAHQ and officers from the @LAPDHQ have taken back MacArthur Park.

To the drug dealers poisoning the streets of Los Angeles: your safe haven is gone. pic.twitter.com/dNaVDitSTM

— Acting AG Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) May 6, 2026