PLACERVILLE, CA — On September 11, 2025, a multi-agency operation resulted in the execution of 21 arrest warrants across El Dorado County and Alpine County in California, as well as Douglas County and Washoe County in Nevada. The effort, named “Operation Summer Heat,” concludes a multi-year investigation focused on dismantling cartel-supplied gangs operating in the Tahoe bi-state region. The operation is also part of a wider, nationwide initiative by the FBI against criminal enterprises linked to cartels.
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office led the prosecutions, securing 20 of the warrants. The office coordinated with the District Attorneys’ Offices of Alpine County, Douglas County, Carson City, and Washoe County, in addition to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, to form a unified response aimed at disrupting criminal organizations. District Attorney Vern Pierson commented on the operation, stating, “This operation underscores our dedication to public safety and justice, achieved through a robust and dynamic partnership with our local and federal law enforcement allies.”
Individuals charged in the operation include alleged Norteño gang leaders and associates accused of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. According to a statement, some defendants are alleged to have attempted to recruit middle and high school students and exploited male recruits to access underage girls. Other defendants include members of outlaw motorcycle gangs like the Devil’s Disciples and the Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington (POBOB), as well as individuals connected to fatal overdoses.
Participating agencies included several local and county sheriff’s offices and police departments from both California and Nevada. Federal partners included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities have indicated that several warrants remain active and are scheduled for execution in the near future.
