Fentanyl Trafficking Leads to Federal Charges in Portland
A suspected fentanyl overdose in Portland has led to federal charges against Efrain Roberto Diaz-Rangel, a 34-year-old Mexican national residing in the city.
According to court documents, the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN) began investigating a suspected fentanyl overdose of an adult victim in Portland in April 2023. Investigators identified multiple people involved in a distribution chain responsible for selling counterfeit Oxycodone pills manufactured with fentanyl, some of which were determined to have caused the Portland victim’s overdose death.
WIN requested investigative assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in May 2023. Together, WIN and HSI obtained evidence that Diaz-Rangel was involved in the fentanyl distribution chain previously identified.
On June 27, 2023, HSI special agents arrested Diaz-Rangel. At the time of his arrest, Diaz-Rangel possessed approximately 1,000 counterfeit pills and a small quantity of heroin. Inside Diaz-Rangel’s residence, the agents located an additional 30,000 counterfeit pills, several additional pounds of heroin, and more than $10,000 in cash.
Diaz-Rangel made his first appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
This case was jointly investigated by WIN and HSI with assistance from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT) and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Jothan Paul Barrios-Chable, Fentanyl Trafficking, Oregon 2023 · Idaho
- Borys Rafael Almendarez-Chapas, Fentanyl Trafficking, Oregon 2025 · Idaho
- Billy Ray Trueblood II, Fentanyl Distribution, Oregon 2019 · Idaho
- Arizona Man Sentenced to 10.5 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking · Idaho
- John Rocha, Fentanyl Distribution, Oregon 2021 · Idaho
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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