3 Men, Teen Arrested in Drug Probe

Ending a monthlong undercover investigation, police this week seized 31 pounds of methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin and arrested three men and one teen suspected in a major drug-trafficking operation, officials said.

After searching two homes of suspected drug dealers, officers found 25 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of heroin, one pound of marijuana, $10,000 cash, two shotguns and a rifle at three locations Tuesday, said Police Sgt. Steve Despenas, who released the information Thursday.

Servando Castaneda, 22, Pedro Rosales Ochoa, 24, Roberto Barajas Cano, 50, and a 16-year-old, all of Santa Ana, were arrested on suspicion of four drug-related crimes: selling methamphetamine, selling cocaine, possession for sale of heroin and possession for sale of methamphetamine.

The arrests were made at West Edinger Avenue and Fairview Road after searches of homes n the 1100 block of West Highland Street and the 900 block of West Brook Street, officials said.

The adults were booked into Santa Ana Jail on $50,000 bail. The teen was taken to a juvenile detention center.

“We feel that this was a major trafficking operation, which came to a successful end with the arrests of these individuals,” Despenas said.

Officers monitored the suspects and the houses for a month. During undercover operations, they posed as drug users and purchased narcotics to acquire evidence.

The men were expected to be arraigned this week at the Justice Center in Santa Ana.