News Summary
A federal indictment has charged 13 Guatemalan nationals involved in a significant drug trafficking operation linked to the Chiapas-Guatemala cartel. The lead defendant, Baldemar Calderon-Carrillo, was reportedly killed in a shootout with authorities shortly before the indictment. His sons are also implicated in this case, with charges related to an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. This indictment illustrates the ongoing challenges faced by U.S. authorities in combating organized crime and the violence associated with drug trafficking across borders.
San Diego, CA — A federal indictment unveiled on June 16, 2025, charges 13 Guatemalan nationals involved in a drug trafficking operation, with the lead defendant, Baldemar Calderon-Carrillo, also known as “Don Valde,” who was allegedly killed in a shootout with Mexican authorities on June 8, 2025. U.S. authorities placed their focus on linking the indictment to a significant drug trafficking enterprise tied to the Chiapas-Guatemala cartel, which is reportedly associated with Mexico’s notorious Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
The indictment alleges that the defendants were part of a sophisticated international cocaine distribution conspiracy. Calderon-Carrillo’s two sons, Walfre Donaldo Calderon-Calderon, known as “El Teniente Jr.,” aged 43, and Edgar Yovani Calderon-Calderon, alias “Panon,” aged 45, have been named among the key figures in the operation. Notably, Edgar Calderon-Calderon was arrested in January 2023 while in Paris and faced extradition to the U.S. in March 2024. In February 2025, he pleaded guilty to charges of international cocaine distribution conspiracy, admitting his role in the distribution of at least 550 kilograms of cocaine intended for illegal importation into the U.S. He was sentenced to over seven years in prison on May 30, 2025.
The indictment comes at a time when U.S. agents are confirming the circumstances surrounding Calderon-Carrillo’s death during a two-hour shootout involving a military unit known as Immediate Reaction Force Pakal and alleged cartel members. Authorities noted that the incident underscored the ongoing violence and risks linked with drug trafficking operations in Central America and beyond.
Calderon-Carrillo, believed to be a founding leader of the Chiapas-Guatemala cartel, was reportedly undertaking operations that facilitated cocaine transport from Guatemala through Mexico into the U.S. The serious nature of the offenses charged in the indictment carries hefty penalties; defendants face maximum sentences of life in prison and fines reaching up to $10 million. Оutstanding fugitives among the charged individuals also face international cocaine distribution conspiracy charges.
In addition to the conspiracy charges, Walfre Calderon-Calderon is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine aboard a vessel, which also entails severe potential penalties. The federal indictment is the result of a long-term investigation that included extensive wiretapping efforts to gather evidence on the cartel’s operations, illustrating not just international cooperation against drug trafficking, but also the persistent challenges U.S. authorities face in combating organized crime networks across borders.
The indictment details the systemic issue of drug trafficking in the region, as authorities have emphasized the necessity of collaborative international law enforcement efforts to dismantle these drug operations. The implications of the indictment could lead to heightened pressure on remaining drug leaders and operatives to evade authorities while potentially spurring further violence in the region.
As this situation develops, U.S. officials continue to execute strategies aimed at mitigating the flow of illegal drugs into the country and addressing the violence intertwined with such operations, showcasing their commitment to tackling the broader issues of drug trafficking and organized crime.
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- Fox 5 San Diego
- Google Search: drug trafficking San Diego
- Times of San Diego
- Wikipedia: Drug trafficking
- NBC San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Drug trafficking
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Google News: indictment drug trafficking San Diego
- Fox 5 San Diego
