A four-month investigation has resulted in the seizure of an estimated $5.6 million in marijuana and the dismantling of a major organization also involved in sales of methamphetamine and cocaine, state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement officials announced Thursday.
State and local officers swooped down on multiple locations Wednesday in El Dorado, Placer, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Sacramento counties, making 21 arrests. In addition to the marijuana, agents seized about 3 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, confiscated about $10,000 in cash and took firearms from suspects during several arrests, officials said.
Marijuana gardens on public land were raided in the Latrobe area of El Dorado County and near Lake Clementine in Placer County. About 1,700 plants were seized at each location. Officials estimated the value of the marijuana under cultivation at $5.5 million. They also seized about 60 pounds of processed marijuana worth another $102,000, they said.
It is one of the first cases where an undercover agent was able to infiltrate such an organization, said state Department of Justice Special Agent Roy Giorgi, commander of the multi- agency task force that conducted the operation.
Giorgi stressed the value of the information provided by the agent. Details about the growing operation, supply schedules, pesticides, security measures and escape routes were available to the agents and police officers making the raids, he said.
Too often an effort like this will result in the eradication of a garden but no arrests, Giorgi said.
The unique view inside the growing operation also underscored how much damage an illegal garden can do to the forest, Giorgi added.
Gardeners taken into custody at the growing sites were armed with shotguns. He also said all of the 21 people arrested were illegal immigrants.
Officials identified the organization's kingpin as Hubert Guigosa Ramirez, 24, who was arrested in Elk Grove but booked into the El Dorado County jail. He was taken into custody along with Samual Mondragon, 25, who was described as the "broker" for the group's methamphetamine sales. Both men were armed with semiautomatic pistols, Giorgi said.
Two brothers, Adrian Diaz and Ruben Diaz of Stockton, were arrested at their homes. Officials consider them the main suppliers for the group's marijuana operations.
Vasquez Baltazar, identified as the group's methamphetamine supplier, was arrested in Stanislaus County, officials said.
This was an organization involved in illegal drug activity "from Kern County up into the state of Oregon," Giorgi said.
Call The Bee's David Richie, (916) 608-7455.
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