Five Arrested in Ventura County Drug Sting

By the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office

Nature of Incident: Drug Trafficking Organization Arrests
Report Number: RB #22-152675, RB #22-168281, RB #22-169959
Location: US Highway 101 at Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo, 400 Block West Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo, 800 Block of Westlake Boulevard, Westlake
Date & Time: December 21, 2022 @ 1440 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau, Camarillo Police, Thousand Oaks Police

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Jesus Villalba / Santa Barbara / 40
(S) Ignacio Perez / La Puente / 33
(S) Armando Zavala / Adelando / 48
(S) Jorge Pena-Nicols / Long Beach / 20
(S) Michael Morales / Pomona / 29

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau concluded at two-month long investigation of a Mexico Based Drug Trafficking Organization responsible for trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into Ventura County.

During the first week of November 2022, Ventura County Sheriff Narcotic detectives received information about a Mexico based Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) responsible for trafficking cocaine into Ventura County. During this portion of the investigation, detectives identified Jesus Villalba as a member of the DTO. On November 15, 2022, detectives located Villalba in the City of Camarillo and coordinated with the Camarillo Police Station to conduct a traffic stop on him. As a result of the traffic stop, 2 kilograms of cocaine was seized from the vehicle. Villalba and his passenger, Ignacio Perez, were arrested for transporting and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell.

During the month of December, Detectives uncovered additional information about this DTO regarding the trafficking of methamphetamine. During this portion of the investigation, Detectives identified Armando Zavala as another member of the DTO who was responsible for trafficking methamphetamine to Ventura County. On December 21, 2022, Detectives located Zavala in the City of Camarillo attempting to deliver a large quantity of methamphetamine. Detectives arrested Zavala and found him to be in possession of 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Zavala was arrested for transporting and possession of methamphetamine for sale.

Narcotic Detectives continued their investigation of this DTO and discovered further information that in addition to cocaine and methamphetamine, they were also trafficking the deadly drug fentanyl into Ventura County. Detectives quickly identified a shipment of methamphetamine and fentanyl enroute to the city of Westlake. Detectives successfully identified the vehicle in which the narcotics were being transported and interdicted the shipment. Detectives arrested Jorge Pena-Nicols and Michael Morales in possession of 30 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fraudulent Oxycodone pills which contain fentanyl. Pena-Nicols and Morales were arrested for transporting and possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl for sale.

The total estimated street level value of the cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl seized in this case is $1,113,200.00.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Bureau is comprised of the Ventura County Combined Agency Team, the Narcotics Street Team, the Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit, the Gun Violence Reduction Program Team, and the Financial Crimes Team. The mission of these teams is to work in collaborative manner to fight the scourge of deadly narcotics being imported in to Ventura County and to hold those responsible both criminally and civilly.