Ventura County – The quiet community of Santa Paula in the Santa Clara Valley—known as the “Citrus Capital of the World” and home to fewer than 30,000 souls—is also home to a number of nefarious entrepreneurial folks who engage in various forms of illegal narcotics activities.
Throughout any given year, Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau will catch the scent of methamphetamine labs operating within the area, so it’s no surprise that some in the community take advantage of their proximity to the production sources that spring up from time to time. Those who can’t cook, grow, or cut drugs frequently find it simpler to distribute, wholesale, and retail narcotic products.
Such appears to be the case of Jose Campos, 32, and Chonita Castillo, 32, both of whom were arrested on April 17th following the service of a search warrant for Campos’ residence. According to VCSD spokesman Sgt. Eric Buschow, the warrant was issued pursuant to information received “from multiple sources” from local area neighbors that Campos and Castillo were actively “selling methamphetamine from their residence.”
On the day of the arrests, both suspects were detained as they attempted to drive away from the home, and the search warrant was summarily executed. Inside Campos’ house and his vehicle, Detectives from the Ventura Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau, West County Street Team and the Santa Paula Police Department found more than $5,000 in cash, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana, all in condition for street sales.
Campos was taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail where they were booked on charges of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana for sale, transportation of narcotics for sale, and parole violation, with his bail set at $250,000. For her part, Castillo was booked on conspiracy to possess methamphetamine for sale, with bail set at $75,000.
Read more:
Santa Paula Times: Concerned citizens prompt arrests of two for drug dealing
Santa Paula Police Facebook: Media Release
