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Five members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of bulk quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine to residents of Ventura County were arrested.
After a month-long investigation, detectives identified
- Oxnard resident, Erik Gutierrez as a cocaine distributor responsible for disseminating narcotics to street level drug traffickers and users.
- Armando Soto, as the source of supply responsible for coordinating the delivery of cocaine and methamphetamine to Gutierrez and other co-conspirators.
- Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa, were utilized by Armando Soto to deliver narcotics to customers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. *
- Andrew Baz, as a co-conspirator responsible for storing narcotics and illegal drug proceeds for this organization.
*Detectives confirmed Soto, Santoyo, and Sosa lived together in the city of Granada Hills.
On December 4, 2025, narcotics detectives served a search warrant
- Soto’s residence located in the 16000 Block of Kalisher Street, Granada Hills. During the search, detectives located
- approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine
- a rifle and four handguns
- ammunition
- U.S. Currency
- additional evidence to support drug sales.
- Soto was detained pursuant to a search warrant
- Baz’s residence located in the 16000 Block of Victory Blvd, Van Nuys. During the search, detectives located approximately
- 67 pounds of marijuana
- fentanyl
- cocaine
- promethazine
- several hundred oxycodone pills
- six rifles, and three handguns.
Soto and Baz were arrested and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violation of
- HS 11378 - Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance
- HS 11379(a) - Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- PC 182(a)(1)-Conspiracy to Commit a Crime and numerous weapons violations.
On December 5, 2025, narcotics detectives detained Gutierrez in the City of Oxnard. Gutierrez was in possession of cocaine and other evidence to support drug sales. A search of Gutierrez’ residence, located in the 300 block of Libre Street, City of Oxnard was conducted. As a result, approximately one kilogram of cocaine was seized, along with methamphetamine and additional evidence to support drug sales. Gutierrez was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violation of HS 11351 - Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales.
On December 11, 2025, narcotics detectives arrested Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa for their involvement in this drug trafficking organization. Both Santoyo and Sosa were booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
Santoyo was arrested for violation of
- HS 11351 -Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance
- HS 11352(a) - Sale/Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.
Sosa was arrested for violation of
- HS 11378 - Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance
- HS 11379(a) - Sale/Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint on Gutierrez, Soto, and Sosa. The criminal case for Santoyo is under review by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The criminal case for Baz will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing.
The Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCCAT) is comprised of investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the California National Guard, and the District Attorney’s Office. VCCAT adheres to a multijurisdictional collaborative approach to reduce the impact of illicit drugs in Ventura County. VCCAT focuses on major and mid-level drug offenders and their organizations that operate and/or conduct their illegal business ventures in Ventura County and whose illegal activities negatively impact the residents of our county.
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