A nine-month police investigation concluded Tuesday when law enforcement served simultaneous search warrants, leading to five arrests that police say shut down a local heroin trafficking organization.
The Clark-Vancouver Drug Task Force and the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team executed search warrants at three residences — all at about 5 a.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. John Horch said.
Homes that were searched Tuesday were all in Vancouver: 10909 N.E. Burton Road, 13314 S.E. 19th St. and 16801 S.E. First Place. Officers seized $35,000 in cash, 1 pound of heroin, 1 ounce of cocaine, 10 vehicles, two all-terrain vehicles and two watercraft, according to the drug task force.
“In addition to supplying large amounts of heroin throughout the Clark County area, these drug trafficking organizations operate with little to no regard when it comes to the safety and welfare of our youth, to include their own,” Horch said in a press release.
One of the residences had seven children present when their father was arrested, according to the drug task force. Officers called Child Protective Services, and the children were left in the care of a relative.
Those arrested were:
• Sabino Barrera-Briseno, 30, on suspicion of four counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of leading organized crime.
• Zulema Ortega-Gutierrez, 36, on suspicion of three counts of delivery of heroin and one count of possession of cocaine.
• Carlos R. Garcia-Carrillo, 31, on suspicion of delivery of heroin and possession of cocaine.
• Alejandro Amezquita, 27, on suspicion of conspiracy to deliver heroin, delivery of heroin and possession of cocaine.
• Mario Rodriguez Rojas, 30, was arrested and transported to federal holding on suspicion of illegal re-entry into the United States. A charge of conspiracy to deliver heroin has been referred to prosecutors.
All men reside in Vancouver. All of them except for Amezquita were living in the country illegally, Horch said.
