Nearly three dozen suspected members or associates of San Bernardino’s Westside Verdugo gang have been indicted in an alleged drug-distribution scheme, authorities announced on Thursday.

Two of those charged got themselves arrested on purpose, according to authorities, as a way to smuggle drugs and syringes into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.

One man, Trevor Harris, 28, of San Bernardino was arrested July 9, 2017, on suspicion of tampering with a vehicle and was taken to Central Detention Center. During a routine check, deputies found about 43 grams of methamphetamine, 50 grams of heroin, 20 packets of an opioid and five syringes inside a body cavity, according to one indictment.

“(The) narcotics allegedly were separated into multiple packets with monikers written on them to indicate who would receive the drugs,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

The second alleged smuggler, Ernest Madrid, 48, also of San Bernardino, had methamphetamine, heroin, and five syringes concealed in a body cavity. Deputies also found he had telephone numbers used by Carlos Antonio Aznaran, 24, of Rialto, written in marker on his legs.

Authorities allege Aznaran was the orchestrator of the elaborate plans to get the drugs into the county jail.

United States Attorney Nick Hanna announces the arrest made this morning of several members of the Westside Verdugo street gang for various violent offenses during a press conference at the San Bernardino Police Department in San Bernardino on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Twenty-four gang members and associates were arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into San Bernardino County jails and local community. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Federal and local officials announce several arrests made this morning of members of the Westside Verdugo street gang during a press conference at the San Bernardino Police Department in San Bernardino on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Twenty-four gang members and associates were arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into San Bernardino County jails and local community. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Angel Ray Martinez is still at large after federal and local officials arrested 24 members and associates of Westside Verdugo street gang for various violent offenses in San Bernardino during a press conference at the San Bernardino Police Department in San Bernardino on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Federal and local officials announce several arrests made this morning of members of the Westside Verdugo street gang during a press conference at the San Bernardino Police Department in San Bernardino on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Twenty-four gang members and associates were arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into San Bernardino County jails and local community. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt speaks during a press conference about the arrests made this morning of members of the Westside Verdugo street gang for various violent offenses during a press conference at the San Bernardino Police Department in San Bernardino on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Twenty-four gang members and associates were arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into San Bernardino County jails and local community. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



Aznaran, along with with his wife, Elisa Montes, 28, of Palm Desert, were also indicted and arrested in connection to narcotics trafficking, officials said.

Of the 35 indicted, 24 were arrested Monday, while another 10 were already in custody. One remained at large.

The arrests were made by more than 250 law enforcement personnel.

Operation Westside Verdugo Guillotine was intended to take down the street gang, U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said Thursday morning at a news conference at the San Bernardino Police Department.

“(Westside Verdugo members) are the foot soldiers of the Mexican Mafia in (San Bernardino) County,” said Paul Delacourt, an FBI assistant director in charge.

Operation Westside Verdugo Guillotine involved investigative work by the FBI, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the San Bernardino Police Department. Another seven agencies provided substantial help.

Born in the 1950s, the San Bernardino Valley gang has been involved in murder, major assaults, gun trafficking, the sale of illegal narcotics and human trafficking, officials said.

The gang was the target of another operation in summer 2017 when the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department arrested 86 people as part of a four-month investigation dubbed Operation Green Hand. Authorities seized 43 firearms, 4,800 rounds of ammunition, cocaine, black tar heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and nearly $30,000 in cash during that operation, officials said.

The gang also made headlines in the summer of 2000.

Two Westside Verdugo gang leaders and brothers were mowed down by childhood friends during a quadruple slaying dubbed by some in law enforcement as the “Dead Presidents” killings, authorities have said. Two of those victims were allegedly presidents of street-gang cliques within the Westside Verdugo. The motive of the shooting, authorities said, was to remove high-ranking leaders.