Photo: Fentanyl and weapons evidence collected | VenturaCounty Sheriff’s Office
In December 2022, detectives of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Street Team acquired information pertaining to an individual involved in the distribution of fentanyl within the city of Oxnard. The ensuing investigation indicated that 31-year-old Oxnard resident Adolfo Palazuelos was actively engaged in the sale of fentanyl from his place of residence.
It was further determined that Palazuelos had an outstanding felony warrant for violating the conditions of his Post Release Offender Supervision, resulting from a previous conviction. Additionally, detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that Palazuelos was concealing significant quantities of narcotics in a nearby garage.
On May 18th, the detectives made contact with Palazuelos outside his residence pursuant to a search warrant which promptly lead to the discovery and seizuere of more than thirteen ounces of fentanyl, along with eleven ounces of methamphetamine. Two handguns, a shotgun, and a substantial amount of US Currency suspected to be derived from illicit drug activities were also confiscated.
The total quantity of fentanyl seized during this operation amounted to approximately 14 ounces, equivalent to around 9,000 doses. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Dan Ashmore, “.25 milligrams of fentanyl ingestion can prove to be fatal,” underscoring the grave risk associated with this particular seizure; the potential fatality count from this single seizure alone “could exceed one million people.”
Palazuelos was arrested and subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on various charges related to narcotics and weapons offenses. Palazuelos remains in custody on a no-bail hold, with a scheduled court appearance set for June 8, 2023.
