12 arrested in Mexican marijuana trafficking bust in Butte County



Updated: 6:19 PM PST Nov 21, 2019
KCRA Staff

BUTTE VALLEY, Calif. —Deputies in Butte County have arrested 12 people in connection with a marijuana grow operation that was run by a Mexican drug trafficking organization, authorities said.

The dozen arrests come after deputies raided multiple properties along Bonnie Meadow Lane in Brush Creek on Monday, according to a Thursday news release from the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

The raid stemmed from a Nov. 6 traffic stop, during which officers found more than $160,000 hidden in a vehicle, the sheriff's office said. Detectives believed three people arrested during the traffic stop were traveling from out of state to buy a large amount of marijuana. The suspects were also armed, authorities said.

The grow-op on Bonnie Meadow Lane was run by a Mexican drug trafficking organization, the sheriff's office said. At the properties, detectives found 1,204 live marijuana plants, nearly 280 pounds of processed marijuana bud, about 450 pounds of marijuana bud on stem and more than 180 pounds of marijuana shake.

Deputies also found several guns and seized more than $14,000.

The sheriff's office arrested the following people:
Roberto Estrada, 38, of Mexico. Charges: Maintaining a residence for drug sales, employing a minor under 21 years of age to sell marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale

Nestor Ortiz, 32, of Mexico. Charges: Maintaining a residence for drug sales, cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale
Cristobal Briseno, 19, of Mexico. Charges: Cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale
Orlando Martinez, 29, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Emilio Orozco, 31, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Daniel Perez, 22, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Bernardo Ayalavarez, 34, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Jennifer Marquez, 34, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Vianney Barcena, 34, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Beatriz Alvarez, 34, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Carolina Ruiz, 20, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana
Dulce Sanchez, 27, of Mexico. Charge: Cultivation of marijuana

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Butte County Sheriff's Office

The sheriff's office said it has identified additional suspects and that arrest warrants are being sought.

https://www.kcra.com/article/12-arre...ounty/29877021