Drug Bust in Earlimart Reportedly Yields $1.7 Million in Seized Drugs; Multiple Arrests
In a coordinated effort spanning three months, the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Taskforce concluded an extensive investigation targeting a drug-trafficking organization operating in Earlimart, according to a press release by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 25, law enforcement officials executed search warrants at nine separate locations, resulting in the apprehension of five individuals connected to the illicit operation.
During the operation, investigators reportedly uncovered a cache of illegal narcotics, including 132 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 842 grams of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, an astonishing 62,200 fentanyl pills, and a cultivation of 818 marijuana plants. Additionally, officers dismantled an active methamphetamine conversion laboratory that contained liquid meth in various stages of processing.
The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs was $1.7 million. In addition to the narcotics, law enforcement also seized $10,000 in cash, 10 firearms, and recovered stolen property with an estimated value of approximately $180,000.
The agencies that participated in the operation include the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Visalia Police Department, the Porterville Police Department, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Army National Guard, the California Department of Justice, the Los Angeles Police Department – Harbor Narcotics Unit, the California Department of Justice – Special Operations Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Los Angeles Field Office, the California Department of Justice – Bureau of Forensic Science, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
The Tulare County HIDTA Task Force, headquartered in Tulare County, comprises detectives from various law enforcement agencies, including the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, the Visalia Police Department, the Porterville Police Department, the Woodlake Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Farmersville Police Department, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, and Special Agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Individuals with information related to this case are encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218.
