Oregon drug trafficking leader sentenced to federal prison in major narcotics case.

Portland, Ore. (KOIN) - A Hillsboro man was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his role in managing a drug trafficking cell linked to a large Mexico-based organization, according to officials.

Horacio Luna-Perez, 42, was the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in November 2020 as part of a larger operation against drug trafficking networks that were active in Oregon and other states.

According to investigators, Luna-Perez was the leader of an Oregon-based cell that distributed multiple different drugs throughout Portland and Eastern Washington.

Luna-Perez was accompanied by Jesus Miramontes-Castaneda, 34, of Portland, who oversaw a different unit that was in charge of drug trafficking in Salem and Portland. In 2021, both men and their associates were indicted.

Following the investigation, large amounts of drugs were found by police authorities, including roughly 200,000 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, two pounds of powdered fentanyl, 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of heroin, 13 pounds of cocaine, nine firearms, and around $1.4 million in cash stuffed into suitcases.

Collectively, officials say that 17 members of the trafficking cell have entered guilty pleas and been sentenced to 12 and a half years in federal prison.