Omar Cuenca-Marino, 41, from Guerrero, Mexico, has been arrested and charged with money laundering and unlawfully importing narcotics into the United States, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The charges stem from Cuenca-Marino’s alleged leadership role in a Mexico-based drug cartel responsible for smuggling thousands of kilograms of illegal substances into the U.S., including cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. According to court documents, Cuenca-Marino orchestrated smuggling operations using buses and tractor-trailers. He is also accused of overseeing the collection of drug profits, which were transported back to Mexico.
Law enforcement officials identified Cuenca-Marino as the mastermind behind the operation, which spanned several years and involved a network of traffickers working to distribute drugs across the Atlanta metropolitan area.
The investigation revealed several major drug seizures tied to Cuenca-Marino’s network. On October 11, 2013, a law enforcement sting in Vinings and Hiram, Georgia, led to the confiscation of 75 kilograms of methamphetamine, 23 kilograms of heroin, and 47 kilograms of cocaine. The following year, on November 20, 2015, another seizure took place in Duluth, Georgia, where 76 packages of cocaine were found in a vehicle. Investigators learned that Cuenca-Marino had provided the contact information for an Atlanta-based trafficker set to receive the shipment.
In addition, on February 9, 2016, a traffic stop in Phelps County, Missouri, led to the discovery of $425,900 in drug money in a vehicle en route to Mexico. Cuenca-Marino allegedly received a report the next day, stating that the vehicle had been involved in an accident.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. emphasized the importance of law enforcement partnerships in bringing down cartels. “Robust law enforcement partnerships, tenacious investigators, and a resilient determination to eliminate cartels that import deadly drugs into our communities culminated in the charges of this alleged drug cartel leader,” Moultrie stated. “This prosecution sends a strong message to the cartels and their leadership, no matter where they reside: you will face justice.”
Cuenca-Marino now faces federal charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime. His prosecution is part of a broader effort to dismantle drug cartels operating across the U.S. and protect communities from the devastating effects of illegal drugs.
