ATHENS, Ga. — The FBI today announced three Homeland Security Task Force investigations that have disrupted armed, cartel-linked drug trafficking networks operating in Georgia, particularly around the Athens area.
The multi-agency effort has taken large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine off the streets while recovering dozens of firearms and securing major sentences against key defendants.
FBI Atlanta: Cartel-Linked Drug Networks Targeted in Athens; Over 200 Kilos Seized, Defendants Face Life and 30-Year Sentences
“Cartel-connected drug trafficking organizations pose a serious threat to our communities, fueling violence and putting lives at risk through the distribution of deadly drugs and the proliferation of illegal firearms,” Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham said. FBI Atlanta and its partners are working hand-in-hand across the state to dismantle these organizations and protect communities, she added in remarks accompanying the announcement.
Federal authorities reported seizing more than 200 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, along with dozens of firearms, across the three investigations. Two defendants received lengthy prison sentences this week, and a third faces new federal charges.
The Cases
- Josue Serda, 28, of Jefferson: Sentenced November 5 to life in prison without parole after a jury convicted him of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, multiple counts of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine (including distribution of methamphetamine on premises where a person under 18 was present), and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Investigators identified Serda as an Athens-area supplier for the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Between January 2024 and May 2025, he moved more than seven kilograms of fentanyl and 50 kilograms of methamphetamine. During an August 26, 2025, FBI SWAT raid at his home, Serda called a cartel associate in Mexico to warn of the operation and instruct an inbound shipment to turn around. Seizures tied to the case included 26 firearms, 26 kilograms of cocaine (estimated street value $780,000), 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl (estimated $60,000), additional methamphetamine, crack cocaine, marijuana, pharmaceuticals, and more than $63,000 in cash.
- Orlando Muckle, also known as “Lando,” 52, of Athens: Sentenced the same day to 360 months (30 years) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Authorities said he obtained cocaine through sources associated with the Gulf Cartel for distribution in the Athens area. Controlled purchases and searches of stash locations recovered 26 kilograms of packaged cocaine.
- Raul Perez-Mondragon, 30, of Querétaro, Mexico: Federally charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a person illegally in the United States. Investigators allege the network concealed one-kilogram bricks of methamphetamine inside cabbages wrapped in green cellophane for shipments of up to 300 packages at a time. Surveillance and a search warrant at an Athens residence yielded more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine and multiple firearms. He remains detained under a federal immigration hold.
U.S. Attorney Will Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia described the outcomes as evidence of the task force’s determination to remove dangerous offenders. “Two cartel-linked drug traffickers who distributed large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine received lengthy sentences and a third defendant now faces federal charges involving more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine and firearms allegedly tied to a transnational criminal organization,” Keyes said. “These Homeland Security Task Force cases highlight the devastating impact of cartel-linked drug trafficking and the determination of our law enforcement partners to remove dangerous offenders from our communities.”
The investigations are part of the Homeland Security Task Force, a joint multi-agency effort involving the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, and other state and local partners. There is no parole in the federal system.
FBI Atlanta continues to encourage tips related to drug trafficking and other criminal activity at tips.fbi.gov. Public information may be used for authorized law enforcement purposes.