Luis Garcia Zurita, a Portland resident, was sentenced on Apr. 2 to ten years in federal prison and five years of supervised release for his involvement in an interstate drug trafficking organization.
Garcia Zurita’s sentencing comes after authorities identified him as both a transporter and local distributor for a Mexico-based group moving drugs into Portland. This case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into Oregon communities.
According to court documents, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration stopped Garcia Zurita in August 2024 while he was traveling from Los Angeles to Oregon. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators seized approximately four kilograms of fentanyl pills and two kilograms of cocaine from his vehicle. He was later indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to possession with intent to distribute these substances, and pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025.
The investigation involved the DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF). CCITF is led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office with support from several local law enforcement agencies and grant funding from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. The program is sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and provides resources for multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Scott Bradford has served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon after previously holding roles such as Chief of the White Collar Unit and Acting Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, according to the official website. The U.S. Attorney’s office engages in community outreach across Oregon to fight crime and protect rights according to its official website, with offices located in Portland, Eugene, and Medford according to its official website.
Operating under the Department of Justice as one among ninety-three offices nationwide according to its official website, it employs 107 staff members according to its official website. The office seeks justice by representing the United States in civil and criminal matters while fostering trust in the federal judicial system according to its official website.
