Central Coast Roaundup
By Redaccion
[email protected]
Last week detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit concluded a five-month investigation into a transnational drug trafficking organization operating a narcotics delivery service that supplied Ventura County residents with cocaine coming from El Salvador, that left many suspects arrested under various felonies.
As a result of the investigation, eight members of the delivery service were arrested, over five pounds of cocaine, five firearms, thousands of dollars in cash and a significant amount of suspected drug proceeds were seized.
According to the Ventura Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) delivery service like this are part of a bigger cartel and are structured to sell their drugs to as many customers and across as wide of a geographical area as possible.
These illegal narcotics delivery services are typically made up of several components, including: the cell head, dispatchers, stash house operators, couriers, and delivery drivers, who deliver narcotics to local customers.
According to the VCSO its Narcotics Street Team detectives learned of a narcotics delivery service operating within the eastern portion of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
“An investigation was initiated which revealed Joel Cruz Ayala and Elmer Ayala-Ayala, both from Bakersfield, were working for the organization as full-time dispatchers,” said the VCSO in a press release.
Luis Cruz was identified as the dispatch house manager, who was in direct communication with high-ranking members of the organization in El Salvador.
The organization employed multiple delivery drivers including Wilfredo Castillo, Lisandro Moreno, Kevin Bonilla, Jose Ayala Hernandez, and Noel Cruz.
During the investigation, detectives observed Castillo, Moreno, and Hernandez deliver drugs to multiple customers throughout Ventura County, they were supplying cocaine to hundreds of people daily throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties,” the Sheriff said.
Last Friday, detectives executed a search warrant at numerous locations in Bakersfield and the neighborhoods of Panorama City and North Hills in the city of Los Angeles.
Castillo, Moreno, Bonilla, Hernandez, and Noel Cruz were located and arrested at their residences in Panorama City and North Hills.
They were each found to be in possession of a large amount of pre-packaged cocaine ready to be delivered, as well as large sums of suspected drug proceeds.
Joel Cruz, Elmer Ayala-Ayala and Luis Cruz were located and arrested at their residences and the dispatch house in Bakersfield.
A significant amount of evidence, weapons and packed drugs were located exposing their large-scale transnational drug trafficking organization, including proofs of money transfers to higher ranking members of the organization in El Salvador.
“Cocaine remains one of the most abused illicit drugs worldwide with a high risk of addiction. Cocaine use can negatively impact every organ of the body and an overdose can cause physical emergencies, up to and including death,” the VCSO said.
CARBAJAL
Last week Congressman Salud Carbajal highlighted recently-passed bipartisan legislation that he co-led in Congress to combat the trafficking of deadly fentanyl into the United States, and the impact the new law will have on curbing overdose deaths on the Central Coast.
The Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act passed both chambers of Congress two weeks ago, and President Biden signed it into law last Friday, it will grant almost a trillion dollars, $900 thousand million, to spend for the military.
“Our bipartisan bill that passed Congress last week requires the Pentagon to develop a specific counter-drug strategy for dealing with fentanyl and the cartels that are trafficking and smuggling this drug,” said Rep. Carbajal.
According to the democrat Congressman, the bill will increase federal attention on fentanyl trafficking by utilizing the tools of the Department of Defense (DoD) and involving Mexico as an active partner to combat the flow of the illicit opioid and disrupt drug cartel and trafficking activity.
At the press conference were also present Ventura County Chief Executive Dr. Sevet Johnson, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties District Attorneys, Erik Nassarenko and John Savrnoch, as well Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties Sheriffs, Jim Fryhoff and Bill Brown, respectively.
“We are grateful to Congressmember Carbajal’s ongoing support and the attention he is bringing to the need to address the opioid crisis at the local, state, and federal level,” stated VC Executive Officer Dr. Johnson.
DA Nasarenko stated interdicting and disrupting the flow of this deadly poison into Ventura County is critical to the public safety of its residents.
“I want to thank Congressmember Carbajal and his colleagues for championing a bipartisan bill that will devote greater equipment, attention, and resources to this multinational crisis,” said Nasarenko.
Key aspects from the new Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023 are that from now on fentanyl trafficking will be declared a national security threat stemming from drug cartels and smugglers, directing the Pentagon to develop a fentanyl-specific counter-drug strategy, including enhanced cooperation with foreign nations, requiring the Secretary of Defense to increase security cooperation with the Mexican military, and addressing coordination efforts between the military and federal law enforcement agencies.
Carbajal also emphasized the impact that fentanyl trafficking has had on the Central Coast, including the deadly rise in opioid-related overdoses in recent years.
“For the sake of the hundreds of families on the Central Coast that have lost a loved one to fentanyl, we owe it to them to ensure that bureaucracy and interagency coordination are not getting in the way of our counter-drug efforts,” said Carbajal.
According to official data, fentanyl is a leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45, and an estimated 196 Americans are dying every day due to this drug.
Of the 168 overdose deaths in Santa Barbara County in 2022, 115 were fentanyl related, compared to 75 in 2021 and 32 in 2019.
“Fentanyl does not discriminate in who it kills. Its victims include people of all ages, races, religions, educational levels and social status. Defeating the scourge of fentanyl is not a partisan issue. It is a life-and-death issue,” said SB County Sheriff, Brown.
Meanwhile in Ventura County, fentanyl-related overdose deaths have risen more than 800% in recent years – with 181 deaths in 2022 compared to 22 in 2017.
Ventura County’s Sheriff Fryhoff stated that despite the efforts of law enforcement and government agencies to combat its distribution to prevent further tragedies, fentanyl has increasingly had a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities; evidence of which can be found in the countless stories of family members who have lost their loved ones to this deadly drug.
“No one should want a permissive approach towards fentanyl enforcement, and this bill, which has bipartisan support, will help the efforts of law enforcement to reduce the trafficking of fentanyl,” said Chief Fryhoff.
In San Luis Obispo County, overdose deaths involving fentanyl climbed from 9 in 2019 to 74 in 2021.
The Department of Defense plays a crucial role in the nation’s counter-drug intelligence and monitoring operations, and these operations are meant to provide federal law enforcement with actionable intelligence to further investigations.
However, a lack of interagency cooperation has hampered our government’s counter-fentanyl efforts.
“A coordinated approach to addressing the presence of fentanyl in our community is key to our work to tackle the issue through the efforts of our first responders, law enforcement agencies, and health care system,” said Santa Barbara District Attorney John Savrnoch.
TOYS
More than 150 children in need received a special Christmas this year when they were taken on a shopping spree alongside local law enforcement and first responders during the annual Shop with a Sheriff events this month.
The 155 children were paired with deputies, officers, dispatchers, and volunteers at the Goleta Target, and Lompoc and Santa Maria Walmart where they enjoyed a special breakfast and photo with Santa before loading up carts with toys, clothes, and treats.
The Santa Barbara Deputy Sheriff’s Association organized and hosted this event through their foundation, which provides financial support to non-profit organizations and local charities that strive to make a difference in the community and build positive experiences with law enforcement. For the past three years, the foundation has partnered with Domestic Violence Solutions of Santa Barbara who selects the children in their care and programs to participate. Funds were raised through the Santa Barbara Deputy Sheriffs’ Foundation annual Charity Poker Tournament along with community grants from both Walmart and Target Foundations.
“We are honored and privileged to be able to host and connect with these wonderful children, and to bring a joyful holiday season to those who may need a little extra cheer,” said Neil Gowing, President of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. “We appreciate the community support and donations that have helped our foundation grow this noble cause countywide.”
“In 2021, we were able to host 40 children, in 2022 it grew to 120 children, and this year to 155 and a third location in Goleta,” said President Gowing.
Due to the large number of children, we were able to serve this year, the DSA reached out to the Sheriff’s Office and neighboring public safety agencies to come together to host the families. A special thank you to members of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, Santa Barbara Police Department, Lompoc Police Department, Santa Maria Police Department, California Highway Patrol, University Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for sending volunteer shoppers.
Sheriff Brown said “We are proud to partner with the Deputy Sheriffs’ Foundation in this special annual event because the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office believes in giving back to our community with heart and compassion. Our team members don’t just uphold the law; they also embrace the spirit of unity and kindness. Through programs like ‘Shop with a Sheriff,’ we aim not only to protect but to uplift, ensuring that every child feels the warmth of the season and the support of their local law enforcement. Together, we build bridges of trust and forge bonds that make Santa Barbara County a safer and more caring place for all.”
