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Drug, weapon, and cash evidence collected | Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
A pair of major drug dealers purveying their wares throughout Ventura County are now behind bars.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Odilon Malagon, in May of 2023 investigators assigned to the Ventura County Narcotics Street Team (NST), in collaboration with investigators from the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Unit (VCFOCUS), the Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCAT) “initiated an investigation into the activities of Long Beach residents Efren Sanchez, 52, and Hector Valle, 48.” Detectives acquired a search warrant targeting the residences of Sanchez and Valle, as well as a vehicle upholstery shop operating in Long Beach suspected as a facility for storing, packaging, and distributing narcotics.
Those search warrants were executed on June 16th, leading to the discovery of several firearms, a sum of U.S. currency believed to be derived from drug sales, a semi-automatic firearm, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cutting agents, packaging materials, and heroin.
Overall, the investigative efforts resulted in the seizure of approximately 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of black tar heroin, one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl, one pound of methamphetamine, counterfeit M30 (fentanyl) pills, six weapons, and several thousand dollars in suspected drug proceeds. Valle and Sanchez were transported and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on various charges related to narcotics and firearms.
