Santa Ana : Police Link Family to Narcotics Operations
A family arrested last month in Santa Ana on suspicion of drug dealing may be linked to narcotics operations in at least 15 houses in the city, Santa Ana Police Sgt. John Collins said.
Police said that the four illegal Mexican aliens may be part of the largest drug ring in the city, with sales averaging between $2,000 and $4,000 per day. Police believe profits were being sent to Mexico.
During a Dec. 19 raid on a home at 2214 W. Wilshire Ave., Collins said, police seized more than $28,000 in cash, utility bills, lease agreements and other documents linking the Carranza family to drug dealing operations throughout the city.
The four suspects, Edelmira, 29, Amador, 39, Maria, 54, and Cornelio Carranza, 29, were arraigned on felony charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and held on $25,000 bail each. Edelmira, Amador and Maria are also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
The Carranzas are suspected of recruiting illegal aliens to sell heroin, cocaine and marijuana from the sparsely furnished houses, some of which were fortified against forced entry, police said. Police are not sure of the suspects’ relationships to each other.
Police said many of the 200 illegal aliens arrested for selling narcotics since the department’s undercover task force began operating last October are believed to have been working for the Carranzas.
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