Narcotics and Weapons Seized in Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Investigation Spanning Multiple Counties
A portion of the narcotics seized during the investigation. (Photo credit: YCSO)
Above: Stock Image
Authorities recently seized several illegal firearms and hundreds of pounds of suspected narcotics in connection with a year-long multi-agency investigation.
The investigation, headed by Yuba County detectives, was comprised of multiple law enforcement agencies and spanned multiple counties.
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office announced on June 19 that, in late May of this year, multiple law enforcement agencies served 12 federal search warrants across multiple counties — Sacramento, Yuba, and Yolo.
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Group, and the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team had been conducting a joint investigation for over a year into an alleged large-scale drug trafficking organization based out of Sacramento County.
Authorities suspected that the operation was responsible for narcotics trafficking across Yuba, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Sutter, and El Dorado Counties.
Investigators carried out the search warrants on May 30 and ultimately seized over 750 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 3,500 pounds of counterfeit Oxycodone tablets allegedly laced with fentanyl, ten pounds of heroin, five pounds of cocaine, and a total of 22 firearms.
Investigators also reportedly discovered an active meth conversion lab in the Central Valley with over a thousand pounds of crystal methamphetamine in “various stages of production.”
A total of thirteen suspects were arrested as part of the operation. Authorities identified two of the suspects, suspected of working as so-called sub-distributors within the alleged trafficking organization, were identified as Harold Kemper, 65, and Micky Jeffrey, 66.
Both were arrested and booked at the Yuba County jail on multiple felony charges, authorities said.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
Although arrests have been made, an arrest is not a formal charge, nor a conviction. Anyone arrested on suspicion of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
