Two arrested in probe of Mexican drug group
Friday, May 26, 2006 11:38 PM PDT
By Leslie Slape
Printable version
E-mail this articleNarcotics detectives arrested two men Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into what they describe as a well-organized, multi-layered drug-trafficking organization involving illegal aliens from Mexico.
After the arrests, agents seized an undisclosed amount of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, two vehicles and cash in a search of a Kelso residence identified as a distribution and dispatch center, according to a news release.
Agents of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force, the Longview Street Crimes Unit, Cowlitz County sheriff's deputies and Kelso police officers first arrested Russland "Victor" Villegas Hurtado, 24, of Kelso and Fabian Zuniga Zepeda, 23, of Longview during a traffic stop in the 700 block of Vine Street in Kelso on Thursday evening.
Agents said the men carried large quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, packaged in varying quantities for sale to street-level dealers. Villegas had more than $2,000 cash when arrested, agents said.
Late Thursday night, agents served a search warrant at 104 Florence Avenue, Apt. 3, Kelso, where Villegas operated a distribution/dispatch center, according to the task force. No one was home at the time. With the assistance of sheriff's deputy Jennifer Prusa and her newly trained drug K-9 Annie, agents located bulk quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, most of which had not yet been cut and/or packaged in street level weights, the news release said. Agents said they also seized drug scales, packaging, documents and more cash.
Initial bail was set at $200,000 for Villegas for investigation of 10 counts of delivering narcotics, with eight deliveries in a school zone, and possession of cocaine, heroin and meth with intent to sell. Initial bail for Zuniga was set at $75,000 for investigation of delivering narcotics and possession of cocaine, heroin and meth with intent to sell.
The task force also said that Oswaldo Hernandez Perez, whose arrest was published Friday, has been identified as a drug runner associated with this organization.
Longview Police Officer Tim Watson arrested Hernandez on Wednesday in the 1600 block of Nichols Boulevard, Longview. Hernandez had a significant quantity of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine packaged for resale to street-level dealers in addition to a substantial amount of cash, agents said. Task force agents seized the vehicle Hernandez was using.
Agents expect to make additional arrests.
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