22 Are Arrested in Drug Sweep

Two brothers ran a large, illegal drug operation from their Mexican restaurant in Oxnard, police said Friday, announcing the arrests of the pair and 19 others throughout California.

During a yearlong investigation involving phone tapping and thousands of hours of surveillance, Ventura County and federal officers statewide seized 55 pounds of tar heroin, 19 pounds of cocaine and 6 pounds of methamphetamine, along with $120,000 cash.

The drugs have a value of about $8 million, and there was enough heroin and cocaine for 400,000 uncut doses, authorities said.

They described the seizure as one of the largest in Ventura County history.

“This is a major organization; we’re not talking about street sales,” Oxnard Police Cmdr. Steve Blanchard said.

He identified Jesus Mendoza Naranjo, 39, of Santa Ana and Reynaldo Manuel Naranjo, 36, of Canoga Park as ringleaders of the far-reaching operation.

They own Los Molcajetes restaurant in downtown Oxnard, where investigators said much of the activity and money-laundering occurred.

The restaurant has been shut down at least twice in recent years for unsanitary conditions. Police said the brothers’ primary supplier was Saul Lopez Buenrostro, 23, of Pomona.

Also arrested in the sweep Thursday and Friday were Reynaldo Naranjo’s wife, Susana, and seven Oxnard residents.

Suspects were also taken into custody in El Monte, Ontario, Madera and Redwood City.

In addition to the 21 California arrests, one man was arrested in Oregon. Authorities said the investigation is continuing in Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Georgia.

The 17 arrested men and five women range in age from 23 to 61. Oxnard police announced the arrests and displayed the drugs at their headquarters.

Also involved in the investigation were the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, district attorney’s office and police departments in Ventura, Los Angeles and Ontario.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and U.S. Customs Service also assisted.