South County : 3 Held in Drug Inquiry; $475,000 in Cash Seized
Three people were arrested and about $475,000 cash was seized from their homes in what the Sheriff’s Department Friday called an ongoing investigation of a major cocaine trafficking organization.
Sheriff’s Lt. Richard J. Olson said officers found no drugs during the arrests Thursday night. But he said the cash “is believed to have been used in narcotics trafficking. We’re now allowed by law to get back part of that money to fight drug traffickers. That’s the part we like. . . .”
Olson said he would reveal few details about the case, which is a joint investigation with the San Clemente Police Department, because other suspects are sought.
Arrested were Raual Eduardo Galviz, 29, of Laguna Hills; Marilyn Jeannie Price, 29, of Laguna Niguel, and Juan Pablo Ramirez Gonzales, 27, of Mission Viejo. Olson said the suspects were booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Bail for each was set at $25,000.
“We’ve been working these people with San Clemente police because we felt they were involved in a major narcotics trafficking organization,” Olson said.
The suspects were arrested about 7:30 p.m. by teams of officers who had gone to three residences with search warrants.
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