TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KMJ) — Thirteen people ranging from 23 to 60 years old have been arrested after a drug trafficking organization was taken down in Tulare County.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with nine other law enforcement agencies to carry out this takedown on Monday, in which more than $1 million worth of drugs were seized, 22 firearms were found, and three meth labs were destroyed.
Law enforcement traced the operation to Tulare County, where they found the three working labs with more than 1,000 pounds of meth, nearly 3 lbs. of Cocaine, almost 4 lbs. of Heroin, and 79 lbs. of marijuana.
Officials say the total worth of the drugs is more than $1.3 million. In addition, $11,000 were seized during the operation.
Detectives say all 13 that were arrested are from Tulare, Coalinga, Porterville and Alpaugh areas, their names can be seen below:
- 23-year-old Oscar Contreras
- 50-year-old Antonio Alvarado Pulido
- 51-year-old Angel Sanchez
- 50-year-old Alma Gonzalez
- 32-year-old Jose Luis Felix Ochoa
- 60-year-old Michael Scott Ackerman
- 24-year-old Gabriel Sicairos Leon
- 47-year-old Vickie Sanchez
- 24-year-old Juan Carlos Ruiz Jr.
- 30-year-old Javier Lopez
- 30-year-old Sostenes Quintero
- 36-year-old Yurico Ayon
- 60-year-old Monico Ayon Fernandez.
Deputies say, Raudel Ayon, 39, and Leonel Meraz, 36, are also tied to the case and remain on the run.
The group is facing various charges, including drug sales and the transportation of them.
