Task Force Seizes 350 Pounds of Methamphetamine in Major Smuggling Bust

A multi-agency investigation has successfully dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking operation that was funneling hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico into Ventura County.The Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCAT) announced the culmination of the two-month probe on January 20, 2026, which resulted in the arrest of a 36-year-old Moreno Valley man believed to be a central figure in the distribution network.

From the Border to the Inland Empire

Detectives identified the primary suspect as Sergio Sanchez, a resident of the 11900 block of Indian Street in Moreno Valley. According to investigators, the location served as a regional hub for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization. The group was allegedly smuggling massive quantities of methamphetamine across the southwest border and into Southern California.Once inside the United States, the drugs were stored in various safe houses across the region, including secure locations within Ventura County, before being divided for retail sale.

On January 14, 2026, VCAT detectives, supported by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, executed a series of search warrants at Sanchez’s property and vehicles. The operation yielded a significant cache of contraband, including approximately 350 pounds of methamphetamine. In addition to the narcotics, officers recovered an arsenal of illegal firearms, including five rifles and two handguns, along with a large sum of cash believed to be drug proceeds.

Legal Repercussions and Community Impact

Sanchez has been formally charged with the possession of methamphetamine for sale and several firearm violations.  While he was initially taken into custody in December during the early phases of the investigation, the formal filing of felony charges this week marks a significant victory for the task force. The VCAT unit, which includes the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, continues to investigate the local links to this smuggling ring.

Law enforcement officials noted that a drug seizure of this magnitude prevents millions of individual doses of methamphetamine from reaching the streets. The case is now being reviewed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. As the investigation remains active, authorities are working to identify and apprehend additional suspects involved in the transportation and storage of the illicit shipments.