K9 officer detects over 45 kilos of narcotics at a north O.C. traffic stop, leading to multiple arrests

On By art-pedroza

This post was originally published on this site

Over the weekend, police officers conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations in the area of Brookhurst and Valencia.

Thanks to their diligence and the assistance of K-9 Echo, the officers uncovered over 45 kilos of narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin.

As a result of this traffic stop, multiple suspects are now in custody.

This successful intervention not only highlights the commitment of the FPD police officers to public safety but also underscores the ongoing fight against the distribution of dangerous substances within our community.

According to the CDC, there were approximately 87,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024.

While specific numbers for fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin overdoses aren’t detailed in the latest reports, it’s known that opioids, including fentanyl, continue to be a major contributor to overdose deaths.

In California, the penalties for selling fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin are severe due to the high risk and potential harm associated with these drugs:

Fentanyl

  • Selling or distributing fentanyl: Penalties have increased significantly. For example, selling more than one kilogram of fentanyl adds an automatic three years to the original prison sentence1. The penalties increase with the amount, with a maximum of an additional 25 years for trafficking over 80 kilograms1.

Cocaine

  • Possession for sale: This is a felony punishable by two, three, or four years in state prison and a fine of up to $20,0002.
  • Selling or transporting cocaine: Penalties range from three to nine years in prison, depending on the circumstances, such as crossing county lines3.

Heroin

  • Possession for sale: This is also a felony, with penalties of two, three, or four years in state prison4.
  • Selling or transporting heroin: Penalties range from three to nine years in prison, similar to cocaine4.

These penalties reflect California’s stringent approach to combating drug trafficking and its associated dangers. If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!

author avatar

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.

When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.