Countywide : 9 Colombians Arrested in Narcotics Sweep

Drug investigators from Los Angeles and Orange counties recently combined to arrest nine Colombian nationals on suspicion of being involved in a cocaine distribution ring, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

Sgt. Jim Brantley said the nine were arrested last Friday after 11 search warrants were executed on homes in Anaheim, Buena Park, Santa Ana and Westminster. He said eight pounds of pure cocaine and $135,000 in cash and jewelry were seized.

Brantley said the raids were conducted under the auspices of the Regional Narcotics Suppression Program that incorporates sheriff’s departments in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Although the seizures were not huge, Brantley said, the arrests stymied a major drug-smuggling organization. He said that agents in both counties combined efforts for the arrests because both organizations were conducting similar investigations into the Colombian ring.

He also said the investigation was continuing and that more arrests were expected, possibly in Los Angeles County.

Those arrested were: Jorge Uribe, 35, Blanca Gonzalez,22, Paulino Ruiz, 36, Hector Ruiz, 20, Luis Bedoya, 27, Rubin Salazar, 30, Jesus Roldan, 25, Angela Gonzales,29, and Rodrigo Hernandez, 21.

All but Bedoya and Ruiz, who face deportation action by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, were booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and conspiracy to sell cocaine, Brantley said.

Uribe, Gonzalez and Paulino Ruiz were each being held on $500,000 bail, while bail for Salazar, Roldan, Gonzales and Hernandez was set at $25,000 each.