Ventura County Deputies Seize 92 Pounds of Drugs and 14 Guns in Major Bust

A month long narcotics investigation has culminated in a massive haul of illegal drugs and high powered weaponry. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that deputies successfully dismantled a trafficking operation that was funneling bulk quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into local neighborhoods. The coordinated raids, which took place throughout December, resulted in the seizure of 92 pounds of narcotics and 14 firearms, along with the arrest of five key suspects.

Raids in Granada Hills and Van Nuys

The takedown began on December 4 when detectives executed a search warrant at a home in the 16000 block of Kalisher Street in Granada Hills. This residence was identified as the primary source of supply for the organization. Inside, investigators found approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine, a rifle, and four handguns. Two suspects, Armando Soto and Andrew Baz, were taken into custody during this phase of the operation.

Simultaneously, a second team of investigators searched a residence in the 16000 block of Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys. This location allegedly served as the storage hub for the operation’s inventory and illegal proceeds. The search of the Van Nuys property yielded an even larger cache, including 67 pounds of marijuana, significant amounts of fentanyl and cocaine, several hundred oxycodone pills, six rifles, and three additional handguns.

Dismantling the Distribution Network

Following the initial raids, the investigation shifted to the street level distributors. On December 5, detectives apprehended 29 year old Erik Gutierrez in Oxnard. Gutierrez is alleged to have led the distribution of cocaine to lower level dealers and users. A search of his residence on Libre Street uncovered an additional kilogram of cocaine and more methamphetamine.

The final phase of the operation concluded on December 11 with the arrests of Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa. Both men are accused of acting as the "runners" for the organization, physically delivering narcotics to customers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. With all five members in custody, the Sheriff’s Office believes they have successfully disrupted a major supply chain that had been operating with impunity across county lines.

Legal Action and Future Prosecution

The Ventura County and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Offices are now reviewing the evidence to file formal charges. The suspects face a litany of felony counts including conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of controlled substances for sale, and various weapons violations. This bust represents one of the largest single seizures for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in recent years, highlighting the ongoing battle against high volume drug trafficking in Southern California.