A Tijuana-based trafficker who helped run a notorious drug "storefront" that funneled fentanyl and meth into San Diego was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison. Alejandro Salinas, who prosecutors say acted as a manager at the site known as "The Office," pleaded guilty after admitting he manned the sales desk and coordinated with U.S.-based buyers and runners.
According to the San Diego Union‑Tribune, Salinas pleaded guilty in 2023 to participating in an international conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday. Prosecutors wrote that Salinas reported only to alleged boss Juan Carlos Alonso Reyes and helped coordinate runners who smuggled drug orders into the United States.
How the Tijuana 'storefront' Worked
Federal officials say "The Office" was not your typical backroom operation. The site operated 24/7 for at least five years, serving as a hub to move large quantities of synthetic opioids and meth across the border. In a Department of Justice release, authorities described the locations as "a type of illicit 24/7 drug convenience store" that pushed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and other controlled substances into the United States using runners and internal body carriers. Mexican authorities seized and shut down the storefront in January 2024, according to the DOJ.
Court Records and Plea Details
Sentencing papers filed by federal prosecutors lay out a fairly unglamorous job description for Salinas. He handled orders at the Tijuana site, stayed in contact with dealers in San Diego County and directed runners moving drugs through ports of entry. Court documents and local reporting indicate Salinas and several co-defendants were indicted in 2023. Prosecutors argued that his managerial role warranted a tough sentence, and the judge agreed. With the 20-year term, the court has removed what prosecutors cast as a key middle manager in the trafficking network.
Cross-Border Crackdown
Salinas’ punishment is part of a much larger push on both sides of the border. In January 2026, Mexican authorities transferred 37 alleged cartel fugitives to U.S. custody, including Reyes and others tied to "The Office," according to the Department of Justice. The department called it one of the largest transfers of its kind and noted that the operation had become so public that at one point you could reportedly plug "The Office" into Google Maps and get its Tijuana location.
Prosecutors and local law enforcement say the business model behind "The Office" a physical, round-the-clock point of sale that fed U.S. street networks sharply worsened overdose and public safety risks in San Diego County. While the 20-year term takes one manager out of circulation, authorities say investigations are ongoing and more prosecutions are likely. For now, the sentence stands as a stark reminder that choking off the fentanyl supply takes coordinated work from both U.S. and Mexican officials.
