Federal authorities say a kilogram-level cocaine pipeline was quietly operating out of a luxury Midtown Miami high-rise, until a long-running probe snapped shut on the alleged operation. Five people now face federal charges after investigators reported seizing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, dozens of firearms and millions of dollars in cash in what they dubbed "Operation Mousetrap," a multiagency investigation that targeted shipments moving from Colombia through the Dominican Republic into South Florida.
A federal grand jury returned indictments Monday charging Daniel "Mickey" Hernandez, 38, of Miami; Frank Gonzalez, 45, of Hialeah; Alexander "Al Biggs" Walker Caraballo, 50, of Miami; Jose Luis "Lil Cuz" Diaz Jr., 33, of Miami Gardens; and Humberto "Kiki" Moreno, 42, of Miami, with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Prosecutors say Hernandez and Diaz also face distribution counts, while Walker and Gonzalez are charged with additional offenses that include possession with intent to distribute and firearms-related counts. "An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
When agents executed a search warrant at an apartment in the Midtown high-rise, authorities say they discovered roughly 536 kilograms of cocaine, 14 firearms, including an unserialized AK-47, and about $3.1 million in cash. During one arrest, officials reported finding more cocaine already packaged for street-level sales and additional bulk cash stashed in hidden compartments. Those details came to light after the indictment was unsealed, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
Maritime routes and the wider probe
Prosecutors say Operation Mousetrap did not start with the Midtown condo. The case grew out of earlier HIDTA and Homeland Security Task Force work that tracked loads moving from Colombia to the Dominican Republic and on to South Florida on high-end fishing vessels. Court filings and officials indicate investigators identified a maritime network importing as much as 1,700 kilograms of cocaine, and that previous interdictions netted more than 1,600 kilograms. Those earlier seizures helped pave the way for the Midtown takedown, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Leaders, arrests and related interdictions
Federal prosecutors identified Miami resident Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez as the Miami-based distributor who allegedly oversaw receipt, storage and distribution of the shipments, aided by roughly 20 associates that authorities describe as including boat captains and enforcers. In October 2025, agents say they intercepted more than $250,000 in suspected drug proceeds hidden inside a vehicle, and follow-up arrests have targeted additional alleged co-conspirators, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
Legal implications
The defendants face conspiracy to distribute cocaine charges and, for some, firearms counts that carry separate federal exposure. Under federal law, crimes involving 5 kilograms or more of cocaine carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison. Possessing or using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime can trigger additional mandatory consecutive penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The statutes spelling out those penalties are detailed in 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 18 U.S.C. § 924.
What’s next
Assistant U.S. Attorney Almas Abdulla is prosecuting the Operation Mousetrap defendants and handling related asset forfeiture actions. Court records list case numbers 26-cr-20092 and 26-cr-20135 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Initial appearance dates and other key pretrial hearings were not immediately available, and prosecutors say the broader investigation is still active. Filings and docket information can be found through the Southern District of Florida.
