Local Drug Ring Busted Resulting in Multiple Arrests, Drugs, Guns, and Cash Seized

(Sacramento) – State, federal and local law enforcement agencies today announced that "Operation Camaron" has snared 23 Sacramento-area suspects, several with alleged ties to a Mexican drug operation, and netted more than 550 pounds of methamphetamine and marijuana and $164,000 in cash.

In the most recent sweep, search warrants were served at 10 locations in the Sacramento area at the end of August, resulting in the arrest last week of 11 individuals, including Brandy Tellez, 24, owner of the El Venado restaurant in West Sacramento. Agents seized 20 pounds of methamphetamine, 450 pounds of marijuana, 15 firearms and $81,000 in cash. Earlier, 12 individuals were arrested and 85 pounds of marijuana and $83,000 in cash were seized.

Others arrested in the drug raid August 30 and 31 were: Edwin Balero, 26; Carlos Chaveste, 28; Ivan English, 23; Jose Noriega, 25; Armando Rivas, 32; Lorena Wong, 19; Anali Zazueta, 30; Jesus Zazueta, 26; Manuel Zazueta, 23; and Oscar Zazueta, 27; all of Sacramento. The suspects are being held at the Sacramento County Jail.

Operation Camaron was launched in November when agents began focusing on the activities of Tellez. It was determined that Tellez and other suspects had ties to a Mexican drug organization.

Operation Camaron is the joint effort of U.S. Customs and the Yolo Narcotic Enforcement Team, which includes representatives from the Yolo County District Attorney's Office; Yolo County Sheriff's Office; the police departments of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters and Woodland; and the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. Assisting in the recent service of search warrants were agents from the California Highway Patrol and Sacramento Police Department.