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The Humboldt County Drug Task Force announced the largest one-time seizure of narcotics in its history yesterday after serving six search warrants at locations stretching from McKinleyville to Fortuna, resulting in one arrest.
The yield — the culmination of a nearly one year investigation — included 30 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of heroin, 2 pounds of fentanyl, 150 marijuana plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, $115,500 in U.S. currency and two firearms, according to a news release.
An Arcata resident described by the drug task force as the leader of the trafficking ring, Jose Santiago Lomeli Osuna, 69, was arrested after a traffic stop was initiated around 2:45 p.m. at Fourth and C streets in Eureka, the release states.
He was booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale, transportation of narcotics for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale, transportation of methamphetamine for sale and maintaining or operating a drug house, the release states, with bail set at $500,000.
Search warrants were served at six locations, including Osuna’s residence in the 1400 block of Creamery Row Alley, a storage unit on Sutter Road in McKinleyville,
an auto body shop at Myrtle Avenue and P Street in Eureka, an apartment
The yield — the culmination of a nearly one year investigation — included 30 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of heroin, 2 pounds of fentanyl, 150 marijuana plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, $115,500 in U.S. currency and two firearms, according to a news release.
An Arcata resident described by the drug task force as the leader of the trafficking ring, Jose Santiago Lomeli Osuna, 69, was arrested after a traffic stop was initiated around 2:45 p.m. at Fourth and C streets in Eureka, the release states.
He was booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale, transportation of narcotics for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale, transportation of methamphetamine for sale and maintaining or operating a drug house, the release states, with bail set at $500,000.
Search warrants were served at six locations, including Osuna’s residence in the 1400 block of Creamery Row Alley, a storage unit on Sutter Road in McKinleyville,
an auto body shop at Myrtle Avenue and P Street in Eureka, an apartment
in the 700 block of 10th Street in Eureka and two apartments on
2600 block of Boone Street in Fortuna.
According to the drug task force, an individual associated with the Fortuna locations, Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Alicea, was not located and the agency is seeking information on his whereabouts.
The release states agents will forward charging recommendations to the district attorney for the owner of the auto body shop, where an ounce of cocaine and a digital scale were reported to be located.
Read the full HCDTF release below:
According to the drug task force, an individual associated with the Fortuna locations, Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Alicea, was not located and the agency is seeking information on his whereabouts.
The release states agents will forward charging recommendations to the district attorney for the owner of the auto body shop, where an ounce of cocaine and a digital scale were reported to be located.
Anyone with information on the investigation or other narcotics related crimes are asked to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
Read the full HCDTF release below:
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) has been investigating a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Humboldt County for approx. one year. Through their investigation agents identified the leader of the DTO to be Jose Santiago Lomeli Osuna (69 years old of Arcata).
The investigation took several months as a result of Osuna using multiple vehicles, residences, storage units, and other methods to conceal the location of his narcotics. On Thursday September 15th, 2022 at approx. 1345 hrs. the HCDTF, with the assistance of the Fortuna Police Department POP Team (FOPD), and two FOPD K-9 Officers, made a traffic stop on Osuna at 4th St. & C St. in Eureka. Osuna was detained without incident. Agents served a search warrant on Osuna and located one ounce of fentanyl, two ounces of methamphetamine, and one gram of cocaine in Osuna’s jacket pocket. Osuna was placed under arrest. HCDTF Agents and FOPD Officers then served search warrants on 6 locations associated with the Osuna DTO.
The first warrant was served on Osuna’s residence in the 1400 block of Creamery Row Alley in Arcata. Agents located approx. 3 pounds of methamphetamine, ¼ pound of fentanyl, and approx. $113,000 in US Currency.
Agents also found paperwork identifying a storage unit that Osuna had in Mckinleyville. Agents authored a rollover search warrant for the storage unit on Sutter Rd. in Mckinleyville. Inside of the storage unit agents located approx. 25 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of heroin, and 1.5 pounds of fentanyl.
Agents served the next search warrant on an auto body shop at Myrtle and P St. in Eureka. Agents located one ounce of cocaine and a digital scale inside of the body shop. Agents will forward charges to the district attorney for the shop owner.
Agents served a search warrant on an apartment in the 700 block of 10th St. in Eureka. At this location agents identified the resident as the person who helps Osuna obtain vehicles and trade out vehicles on a weekly basis to help avoid detection. No drugs were located at this residence.
The final two locations searched were neighboring apartments in the 2600 block of Boone St. in Fortuna. Agents located two firearms (one stolen), approx. 2 pounds of methamphetamine, one ounce of fentanyl, 1.5 grams of cocaine, 150 marijuana plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, and approx. $2,500 in US Currency.
The suspect at this location was not home however he has been identified as Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Alicea (34 years old). The HCDTF is asking anyone with information as to the location of Rodriguez-Alicea to contact the HCDTF or their local law enforcement agency.
Osuna was transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked for the above charges: 11351 H&S Possession of narcotics for sale 11352 H&S Transportation of narcotics for sale 11378 H&S Possession of methamphetamine for sale 11379 H&S Transportation of methamphetamine for sale 11366.5 H&S Maintaining or operating a drug house.
Agents contacted a Humboldt County Superior Court Judge and had Osuna’s bail raised to $500,000. This was the largest one time seizure of narcotics in the history of the HCDTF.
In total agents seized: *30 pounds of methamphetamine * 5.5 pounds of cocaine * 3 pounds of heroin * 2 pounds of fentanyl * 150 marijuana plants * 50 pounds of processed marijuana * $115,500 US Currency * 2 firearms
The HCDTF would like to thank the Fortuna Police Department for their assistance with this investigation and a special thank you to FOPD K-9 Blitz and FOPD K-9 Cain who assisted in locating the narcotics.
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
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