DeKalb Mechanics Indicted After 2,500 Pounds Meth Seized

Two DeKalb County auto mechanics, Daniel Santana-Lopez, a twice-deported Mexican national, and Jared Thompson of Snellville, Georgia, have been federally indicted after authorities seized approximately 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine from vehicles linked to their auto repair shop. Investigators allege the men used the shop as a front for distributing meth, with Santana-Lopez's car containing 2,200 pounds of meth and Thompson's car holding over 300 pounds and a firearm. Both men were arrested during coordinated traffic stops in October 2024. Santana-Lopez faces additional charges for illegal reentry into the U.S., while Thompson is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Authorities also discovered heroin and cocaine connected to the operation. The case is part of a broader federal initiative targeting transnational drug trafficking in the region.