“Operation.Com Targets Illegal Drug Sales Online”
From dark alleys to your computer screens, drug dealers are now using the Internet as a modern day street corner for illegal activity. With a few keywords and the click of a mouse, anyone including our children can easily get dangerous drugs on the web.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on online drug dealers. A five-month investigation dubbed Operation.Com has resulted in 19 arrests, as well as seizure of drugs and $25,000 in cash.
Undercover deputies with the Sheriff’s High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (HIDTA)/Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) responded to Craigslist and Facebook posts. Undercover deputies and agents from the Border Crime Suppression Team (BCST), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Border Patrol also took part in Operation.Com. They were able to make 41 undercover buys from November 2013 through April 2014.
Drug deals start with open advertisements for Heroin, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD (a hallucinogen), as well as numerous types of prescription drugs. The ads mention discreet code words such as “Roxy board shorts size 30” for 30 milligrams of Roxicodone. Heroin is listed for sale as “roofing tar.”
The suspects range in age from 26 to 45. Most of them are unemployed or students.
In this digital age when you can find and buy almost anything online, the Sheriff’s Department wants to send a clear message to drug dealers. Whether the drug deal happens on the streets or on the Internet, it is a crime.
It is also illegal to sell prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription. We are also urging parents to be involved and educate their children about being safe online.
Those arrested are facing multiple charges of conspiracy, possession of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for sales, and transportation of controlled substances for sales. They will face a judge in two or three months. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
Pages 2 and 3 of this news release show the detailed results of Operation.Com. For video: http://goo.gl/i9JIOr. For photos, follow us on Facebook: http://goo.gl/ZxFoFs.
You can safely get rid of unwanted or expired medications at any Sheriff’s Station or Substations weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For locations, visit http://goo.gl/5PAQy. If you know someone who needs help with a substance abuse problem, call the County Crisis Hotline at (888) 724-7240.
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The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is also on and www.sdsheriff.net
Arrests
19 (One Suspect Arrested Twice)
Total Criminal Cases
26 (24 Felony, 2 Misdemeanor) Chargeable Suspects 24 (Some suspects have multiple cases)
Successful Buys
41 Search Warrants Served 5
Arrest Warrants Cleared
4 Arrest Warrants Outstanding 7
CPS / DEC (Child Endangerment)
2 SEIZURES (Approximations pending laboratory processes)
Pharmaceuticals
1,283 Dosage Units Heroin ½ Ounce
Methamphetamine
1 Ounce Cocaine 6.3 Grams
MDMA
16 Dosage Units Currency $25,000.00 (U.S. & Foreign)
Safely get rid of expired medications: http://goo.gl/5PAQy
County Crisis Hotline for help with substance abuse: (888) 724-7240
Free initial drug screening test through the county: http://www.mcalisterinc.org/freetest/
Arrestees’ names can be found on San Diego Sheriff’s Dept. website.
San Diego DUI lawyers can’t believe people would think they could get away with this.