57 illegal aliens face charges over drug smuggling via big-rig axles - Tons of narcotics were smuggled in via truck axles

Federal prosecutors Thursday unveiled indictments and charges against 57 people who authorities said smuggled massive quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetaminefrom Mexico to the Los Angeles area using PVC piping concealed in the axles of big rigs.

A federal Southern California drug task force arrested 18 of the alleged traffickers. The others remain fugitives, including Mexico-based Miguel Angel Molinero-Castro, characterized by prosecutors as the boss of the Molinero organization. The cases involve the Molinero organization and two other connected smuggling groups.

Authorities said the network would smuggle large quantities of drugs over the border into Nogales, Ariz., in tractors pulling legitimate cargo trailers from Mexico. According to the charges, the big rigs would eventually make their way to the yards operated by the Mexican-based organization in South Gate and Wilmington, where the wholesale drug dealers would then distribute the drug-filled PVC pipes with other vehicles.

Molinero is described as a prominent member of a "Mexican criminal organization," but authorities refused to be more specific, citing ongoing operations.

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