Seizure nets 459 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 15 pounds of cocaine
Sacramento, Calif.- On August 19, 2010, at 7:05 a.m., the Sacramento County Sheriff;s Department’s multi-agency drug task forces (Cal-MMET, HIDTA, and ADACAET) concluded a year-long investigation into a major Mexico-based drug trafficking organization operating in Sacramento and throughout California;s Central Valley. The investigation resulted in the arrest of three Mexican nationals, and the seizure of over 459 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 15 pounds of cocaine, $35,000 in cash, and 2 firearms. Investigators estimate the street value of the seized methamphetamine and cocaine to be over $100 million.
The investigation began over one-year ago when a Sheriff’s Department undercover narcotics agent made a street buy of methamphetamine in Sacramento. As a result of the extensive follow up investigation, federal and state search warrants were obtained for several distribution locations and suspect residences in Sacramento, Modesto, and Gilroy, California. Investigators believe the home located at 2250 Roop Road in Gilroy is the primary methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution hub for the entire California Central Valley. They also believe it was a major source of methamphetamine for illegal drug operations throughout the United States.
3 Suspects
The three suspects arrested at the Gilroy location, 43-year-old Hector Borraya Salazar, 35-year-old Sergio Murillo Valencia, and 28-year-old Fabian Figueroa Ayala, were booked into the Santa Clara County Jail. They will eventually be transferred to the Sacramento County Main Jail to face multiple felony charges including the possession for sale of methamphetamine, and the manufacturing of methamphetamine. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have also placed immigration holds on all three suspects.
The California Multi-agency Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (Cal-MMET) is comprised of investigators from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento County Probation Department, and the Citrus Heights Police Department. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force is comprised of investigators from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento County Probation Department, the Sacramento Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The Anti-Drug and Child Abuse Enforcement Team (ADACAET) is comprised of investigators from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento County Probation Department, and the Folsom Police Department.