According to a press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, an investigation into a large drug trafficking organization in Humboldt County has been ongoing for approximately one year.
Agents identified the leader of the drug trafficking organization to be 69 year old Jose Santiago Lomeli Osuna of Arcata. Osuna used multiple vehicles, residences, storage units, and other methods to conceal the location of his narcotics lengthening the investigation to several months as a result.
On Thursday September 15th, 2022 at approximately 1:45pm, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, with the assistance of the Fortuna Police Department, and two Fortuna Police K-9 Officers, made a traffic stop on Osuna in Eureka and Osuna was detained without incident.
Osuna was served a search warrant and one ounce of fentanyl, two ounces of methamphetamine, and one gram of cocaine were located in Osuna’s jacket pocket. Osuna was placed under arrest.
Search warrants were then served on 6 locations associated with Osuna with the first warrant served on Osuna’s residence in Arcata. There agents located approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine, ¼ pound of fentanyl, and approx. $113,000 in US Currency. Agents also found paperwork identifying a storage unit that Osuna had in Mckinleyville.
Agents authored a rollover search warrant for the storage unit in Mckinleyville. Inside of the storage unit agents located approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of heroin, and 1.5 pounds of fentanyl.
Agents served the next search warrant on an auto body shop in Eureka. At that location agents discovered one ounce of cocaine and a digital scale inside of the body shop. Agents will forward charges to the district attorney for the shop owner.
Agents then served a search warrant on an apartment in Eureka. At this location agents identified the resident as the person who helps Osuna obtain vehicles and trade out vehicles on a weekly basis to help avoid detection. No drugs were located at this residence.
The final two locations searched were neighboring apartments in Fortuna. Agents located two firearms (one stolen), approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine, one ounce of fentanyl, 1.5 grams of cocaine, 150 marijuana plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, and approx. $2500 in US Currency. The suspect at this location was not home however he has been identified as 34 year old Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Alicea. Anyone with information as to the location of Rodriguez-Alicea is asked to contact the Humboldt County Drug Task Force or their local law enforcement agency.
This was the largest one time seizure of narcotics in the history of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force seizing 30 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of heroin, 2 pounds of fentanyl, 150 marijuana plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, $115,500 US Currency and 2 firearms.
Osuna was transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked on multiple charges including, Possession of narcotics for sale, Transportation of narcotics for sale, Possession of methamphetamine for sale, Transportation of methamphetamine for sale, and Maintaining or operating a drug house.
