Alberto Ortiz-Osornio and Marco Antonio Solano-Posadas have been charged with federal drug trafficking offenses after law enforcement seized about 85 kilograms of methamphetamine in Norcross, Georgia, according to an April 9 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat large-scale drug distribution and address the impact of illegal narcotics on local communities. The charges stem from a coordinated investigation involving multiple agencies.
“The defendants allegedly sought to traffic nearly 200 pounds of deadly methamphetamine before a coordinated law enforcement effort caught them in the act,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office and our law enforcement partners will use every tool at our disposal to prevent foreign drug cartels from poisoning Georgians and to hold drug dealers accountable for their crimes.”
Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division, said: “These arrests represent a significant step in dismantling a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing dangerous amounts of methamphetamine into our communities. We will continue to pursue individuals involved in the distribution of methamphetamine with relentless focus. Those who engage in this criminal activity should understand that law enforcement is committed to bringing them to justice.”
According to court information presented by Hertzberg, on April 3 agents observed Ortiz placing two large bins into his car outside his residence before meeting Solano nearby and transferring those bins into Solano’s vehicle. Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputies stopped Solano shortly after and found approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine inside these bins; an additional search at Ortiz’s residence led agents to four more bins containing another 55 kilograms.
Ortiz is identified as a Mexican citizen illegally present in the United States. Both men face charges including conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following their arrest on April 3.
Ortiz was ordered held without bail pending further proceedings; Solano remains in county custody but is expected to appear soon before a federal judge.
The public is reminded that these are only charges at this stage; both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case alongside assistance from Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, while Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hwang is prosecuting it.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice focused on addressing illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
Hertzberg currently serves as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia according to the official website. The office prioritizes prosecution against threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, civil rights violations, enforces federal laws, represents civil matters for the United States government while collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies according to its official website. It covers north Georgia—including Atlanta suburbs—and coordinates cases with national or international dimensions across its region serving approximately 7.5 million residents according to its official website.
