Record Drug Bust Made in Buena Park

A missing license plate led to the arrest of two men and the confiscation of more than $1 million worth of crystal methamphetamine, the largest such bust in Buena Park’s history, police said Sunday.

Enrique Aguiera, 26, of Buena Park was being held in Buena Park City Jail on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine for sale and transporting the drug. Another local man, 31-year-old Antonio Esparsa, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale.

The arrests were made Saturday after police found about 30 pounds of the potent drug, also known as speed, in the trunks of the suspects’ two cars, said Sgt. Jeff Kingsbury of the Buena Park Police Department.

Kingsbury said more than 13,000 grams of methamphetamine were seized; each gram can sell for $60 to $100.

“It’s the largest methamphetamine case ever for Buena Park,” Kingsbury said. “This is one of the largest seizures I’ve seen and I’ve worked narcotics for five years.”

Aguiera was stopped at noon Saturday at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Valley View Boulevard when a police officer noticed the red Ford Mustang was missing a front license plate, Kingsbury said. Officers found about five pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of the Mustang, he said.

Police used a search warrant at 7 p.m. at Aguiera’s home, at 7427 Western Ave., where they found about 25 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of a white Chevy Beretta parked in the driveway, Kingsbury said.

Although the four men and two women at the Western Avenue home were arrested, five were ultimately released, except for Esparsa, Kingsbury said.

Police officials called methamphetamine not only a serious problem in Buena Park, but a major drug problem throughout the western United States.

“Over 80% of our drug arrests are for meth,” Kingsbury said.