SALINAS, CA – A trucking company based in California has been a subject of an extensive multiple agencies investigation spanning over months.
The investigation has concluded in significant drug seizures and multiple arrests.
The Salinas Police Department held a press conference to report on the operation this Thursday. The operation, named “Operation Black Hawk”, was a five-month investigation into Salinas-based trucking company Nor Cal Transportation of suspected drug trafficking.
In the press conference, the Salinas PD said that Nor Cal “is suspected of operating a drug trafficking organization (DTO) with the specific intent to transport and distribute narcotics between Yuma, Arizona, and Salinas, California. During the investigations, it was determined that Nor Cal Transportation was directly connected to the Sinaloa Cartel and transporting narcotics in conjunction with Norteno gang leaders.”
Eight people face charges related to the drug trafficking scheme. As of this report, the charges include conspiracy to transport and distribute narcotics, firearm possessions, gang enhancements, and conspiracy to commit murder.
The names of the eight people facing charges are:
- Everdado Rodriguez Duran,
- Brian David Duran,
- Guadalupe Duran,
- Juan Duran,
- Uriel Coronel Jesus Miranda Haros,
- Juan Carlos Magana, and
- Amaytani Nunez.
The arrests took place on September 9th in two different operations. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Yuma executed four arrest warrants and arrested two people. The same day, the Salinas Police Department executed five warrants and arrested four people.
In these operations, the joint authorities seized 60 pounds of methamphetamine, 5 pounds of heroin, a pound and half of cocaine, and 25,000 Fentanyl pills.
The estimated street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be around $1,8 million.
Additionally, police also seized:
- 9 firearms,
- 2 bank accounts,
- A Nor Cal Transportation tractor trailer combination,
- Around $90,000 in cash.
More than 170 officers from multiple agencies participated in the operation, including:
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- California State Parole
- Monterey County Sheriff’s Office
- California Highway Patrol
- Arizona Department of Public Safety
- US Customs and Border Protection
- San Benito County Sheriff’s Office
- San Benito County Probation Department
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
- Yuma County Sheriff’s Office
- Yuma County Narcotics Task Force
- Yuma Police Department
