Narcotics task force arrests major
heroin sellers known as ‘The Boys’

June 20, 2014
Santa Paula News

Three Oxnard men allegedly found with a large sum of cash and heroin were arrested last week by a joint task force following an investigation into an organized network of west county narcotic sellers.

Sgt. Mike Horne of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said the three were members of “The Boys,” a major heroin distribution organization, which delivered drugs to buyers across Ventura County.

In April of this year, “Narcotics detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office West County Street Team and the Santa Paula Police Department began an investigation into heroin sales occurring in western Ventura County,” and found The Boys organization was “conducting street level heroin sales in Oxnard, Ventura, and Santa Paula.”

The sales even included delivery drivers as a buyer would typically dial a phone number and place an order for a specific amount of heroin, and then the men would deliver the drugs anywhere in Ventura County.

Roberto Zaragoza, 22, was identified as being the heroin supplier for the two identified delivery drivers, 22-year-old Victor Castillo and Jonathan Cruz-Diaz, 24. 

“Detectives observed the drivers make numerous heroin sales throughout the three cities and surrounding county areas,” said Horne.

On June 11, members of several VCSD investigative units, the Santa Paula Police Department, Oxnard Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol, served three search warrants as part of this investigation. 

At the apartment identified as belonging to Zaragoza, located in the 1200 block of Gonzales Road, detectives found approximately 360 grams of tar and powdered heroin, and $10,000 in cash. At the apartment identified as belonging to Castillo and Cruz-Diaz, located in the 600 block of Cuesta Del Mar, detectives located 27 balloons of heroin prepackaged for sale, and approximately $6,400 in cash. 

At a residence in the 4100 block of Gonzales Road, in the county area near Oxnard, detectives located over two pounds of tar heroin. 

Horne noted, “It is the practice of this organization to package heroin in children’s colored balloons, each containing .2 to .3 grams,” and during his arrest Castillo was found to be in possession of 126 balloons of tar heroin. Zaragoza was also found to be in personal possession of $4,500 in cash.

In all, the investigation resulted in the total seizure of approximately 3.25 pounds of heroin and over $21,000 in cash. 

Horne said investigators believe The Boys’ heroin distribution ring “Was responsible for the majority of all heroin sales in the western portion of Ventura County... “

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau, West County Street Team, is made up of narcotics detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Paula Police Department and the Oxnard Police Department. This team works cooperatively to conduct narcotics investigations in the western portion of Ventura County.





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