Authorities Seize Narcotics and Firearms, Arrest 13 People in Multi-County Trafficking Investigation
Above: Evidence confiscated as part of the enforcement efforts
Photo credit: San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office
Authorities in San Joaquin County have reportedly arrested numerous individuals and seized large amounts of evidence as part of an ongoing collaborative effort to curb narcotics and weapons trafficking in the Central Valley.
In a press release, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office detailed the efforts which began in April of 2023. The Sheriff’s Office joined with the Stockton High Intensity Narcotics Enforcement team, the Stockton Police Department, the Tracy Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, HSI, and the ATF to investigate Sinaloa Cartel members allegedly responsible for the large-scale trafficking of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms in the area and beyond.
From the 4th to 13th of November, authorities reportedly carried out 19 federal search warrants across San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, and Merced counties. 13 people were arrested.
Authorities seized over 100 pounds of crystal meth, 120,000 fentanyl pills, 2 kilos of cocaine, a quarter-pound of heroin, around $4 million on concentrated THC products, and around $450,000 cash.
Authorities reportedly also seized 141 firearms and components — ARs, pistols, rifles, .50 caliber weapons, machine gun conversions, high-capacity magazines, and a suppressor.
Authorities also dismantled a machine gun manufacturing lab and a meth conversion lab, the Sheriff’s Office said.
