14 Arrested in Drug Raids in 3 Counties

Local and federal law enforcement officials said Monday that they have broken up a multi-state drug ring that operated in Ventura County with the arrests of 14 people and the seizure of five pounds of methamphetamine.

A series of drug raids were launched Thursday in Ventura, Orange and Los Angeles counties that resulted in the arrests, authorities said. Officers with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and Simi Valley Police Department along with FBI agents participated in the raid, which also netted a half pound of cocaine, $8,000 in cash, an undisclosed amount of counterfeit currency and several weapons.

The investigation began with a tip that the drug ring was operating in Ventura County, officials said. An undercover agent allegedly made several drug buys at the Canoga Park home of Jose Flores and Brenda Perez.

The investigation also led to arrests in Santa Ana, Maywood, North Hollywood and the Westlake neighborhood of Thousand Oaks, where Carlos Martinez Partida, 29, of Simi Valley was arrested after allegedly delivering cocaine and methamphetamine to an undercover officer.

Two suspects were booked into the Orange County Jail while the remaining 12 were held in the Ventura County Jail. Partida was released on $250,000 bail. Simi Valley police and Ventura County sheriff’s officials could not be reached for comment Monday.