| Nature of Incident: |
Narcotics Investigation – Dismantling of Large Scale Drug Trafficking Organization
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| Report Number: |
n/a |
| Location: |
Various Locations Throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties |
| Date & Time: |
September 2017 through September 2018 |
| Unit(s) Responsible: |
Ventura County Combined Agency Task Force (VCAT), which includes the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Simi Valley Police Department.
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
|
Age |
Omar Rangel
Bryan Vega
Nancy Romero
Cesar Alvarez Serrano
Alma Ceja
Richard Kevin Riley
Rhonda Harvey
William Kragthorpe
Xavier Lozano
Jose Florentino Soto
Joseph Rigoberto Soto
Jorge Antonio Jimenez
Alondra Banuelos
Melissa Arnold
Joshua Grimes
|
San Fernando Valley
Reseda
Canoga Park
Winnetka
Downey
Hollywood
Van Nuys
Sherman Oaks
Imperial Beach
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Sylmar
Sylmar
Oxnard
Simi Valley |
29
20
33
30
47
48
47
54
27
40
21
43
23
45
34 |
| Narrative: |
The law enforcement agencies listed above concluded a year-long investigation into the distribution of controlled substances throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. The investigation resulted in dismantling a Los Angeles based drug trafficking organization and the arrests of thirteen suspects for a variety of narcotics sales and weapons possession.
During the month September 2017, detectives from the Ventura County Combined Agency Task Force began investigating a Los Angeles County subject who was suspected of dealing bulk-quantities of narcotics to the residents of Ventura County. During this investigation, detectives learned that the source of narcotics was Omar Rangel (29 years / San Fernando Valley resident). Rangel was the leader of a Los Angeles based drug trafficking organization, which involved numerous persons. This drug trafficking organization was found to be moving substantial quantities of narcotics originating from a drug cartel in Sinaloa, Mexico and then distributing the drugs to bulk-quantity traffickers in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Throughout this investigation, detectives served numerous narcotics-related search warrants, which resulted in the seizure of large amounts of narcotics, indicia of drug sales, weapons, and several arrests.
During the course of the investigation, detectives seized a total of 161 pounds of methamphetamine, 121 pounds of cocaine, 13.2 pounds of heroin, 6.6 pounds of fentanyl, 600 fentanyl pills, more than $353,000 in drug-sales proceeds, and 12 firearms.
The combined street value of the seized drugs was more than $10,800,000.
All of the above-listed subjects were booked during the course of this investigation, or their arrests are imminent, pending arrest warrants.
The Ventura County Combined Task Force is made up of members from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies who work collaboratively to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute major narcotics trafficking organizations.
Please access the following link for additional information pertinent to this news story:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b03whajdu58du4f/AADsIZ48sQoDTy40IOY0YoOWa?dl=0
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| Prepared by: |
Sergeant Steve Trickle |
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| News Release Date: |
October 2, 2018 |
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| Media Follow-Up Contact: |
Detective Andrew Pinkstaff [email protected]
805-383-8757
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| Approved by: |
Captain Robert Thomas |
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