18 Seized in Corona-Norco Drug Sweep

Eighteen people were arrested in a series of raids at 15 homes in the Corona-Norco area Tuesday, climaxing a five-month drug investigation.

“I think we put a real crimp in the heroin market here,” said Lt. Bob Martin, commander of detectives for the Corona Police Department.

The arrests by Corona police and Riverside County sheriff’s deputies culminated a joint effort to break up the heroin trade in northwestern Riverside County, Martin said. During the investigation, informants and undercover officers made more than 50 heroin purchases.

Five suspects were arrested last Friday, Martin said. Tuesday morning’s predawn raids occurred in parts of Corona and Norco and the nearby unincorporated communities of Home Gardens and El Cerrito.

Most of the targets were the homes of suspected heroin dealers, for whom police had obtained arrest warrants. Some of the raids were at addresses given as their residences by area parolees, who are subject to search at any time.

The 23 people arrested Friday and Tuesday were taken into custody on outstanding arrest warrants and charges including multiple counts of selling, possessing or being under the influence of heroin and violating probation or parole.

“We think (the suspects arrested) are a pretty big piece of the heroin action in town,” Martin said. “There are going to be a lot of unhappy addicts in this town.”