A former Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy‚ arrested in September 2023 for alleged possession of more than 100 pounds of fentanyl pills‚ faces new allegations. Jorge Oceguera-Rocha allegedly was part of a wider investigation into the drug trafficking operations of the Sinaloa Cartel‚ formerly headed by Joaqu&;iacute;n “El Chapo” Guzm&;aacute;n. “Cartel investigation led agents to Riverside County deputy accused of transporting fentanyl‚” The Press-Enterprise wrote. Cartel investigation led agents to Riverside County deputy accused of transporting fentanyl https://t.co/oQ7ApIf4tm — The Press-Enterprise (@pressenterprise) April 25‚ 2024 Daily Caller reports: Jorge Oceguera-Rocha was charged with possession of narcotics for market purposed and transportation of narcotics with the goal of distributing‚ in addition to possession of a firearm while carrying out a felony‚ on Sept. 17‚ 2023‚ according to The Press-Enterprise. Over 100 pounds of fentanyl was allegedly found inside his vehicle‚ the outlet reported. A joint press release by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Riverside Police Department (RPD)‚ April 25‚ says an officer was arrested as part of Operation “Hotline Bling.” This operation was an investigation into Sinaloa Cartel operations. The officer is not identified. However‚ The Press-Enterprise reported that the description of the alleged crimes in the press release closely parallels the alleged crimes of Ocequera-Rocha. The cartel is one of the biggest drug-trafficking operations in the world‚ the U.S. government says‚ according to the BBC. It is also one of the world’s most famous as a result of a popular Netflix series based on the exploits of its former leader Joaqu&;iacute;n “El Chapo” Guzm&;aacute;n. He is currently serving a life sentence with 30 additional years in the United States following his extradition from Mexico. Sheriff’s Deputy caught with 100 pounds of fentanyl was working for El Chapo's cartel pic.twitter.com/YV8q19U41e — BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) April 29‚ 2024 From KTLA 5: Investigators did not detail how they learned of Oceguera-Rocha’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking‚ but now it’s apparent that he was the “corrupt Riverside County Correctional Deputy” mentioned in a Wednesday press release touting Operation Hotline Bling‚ the Press-Enterprise explained. That operation‚ which led to 15 arrests and the seizure of $16 million in narcotics‚ was aimed at the Sinaloa cartel’s activity in the Inland Empire. That cartel was once helmed by Joaqu&;iacute;n “El Chapo” Guzm&;aacute;n‚ perhaps one of the most prominent and powerful drug lords since the height of Pablo Escobar’s empire in the 1980s and early ’90s. WATCH: “Oceguera-Rocha‚ 25‚ from Banning‚ Southern California‚ pleaded not guilty to all charges at Banning Justice Center in September 2023‚ according to The Press-Enterprise‚ He is reportedly facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His bail is set at $5 million‚” Daily Caller noted.