Camarillo patrol deputies located about 530 grams of fentanyl during a traffic stop in the city of Camarillo.
On 10/24/2023, a member of the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) was off-duty and alerted Sheriff’s Dispatch to a reckless driver in the area of the 2300 block of Las Posas Road. Camarillo patrol deputies responded to assist. The vehicle was located driving west on Las Posas Road and a short pursuit ensued. The driver of the vehicle, identified later as Alejandro Oviedo, did not pull over for the deputies. Oviedo ended up stopping after fleeing several miles and was arrested for evading.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies located about 530 grams of fentanyl in the trunk of the vehicle. The amount of fentanyl was indicative of narcotic sales and trafficking. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl is only 2 milligrams. Oviedo was arrested for violations of Health and Safety Code 11351 and Vehicle Code 2800.1(a).
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic. It is approximately one hundred times more potent than morphine and fifty times more potent than heroin. Unfortunately, it is highly addictive and extremely deadly when used in its illicit forms. Chemicals involved in producing illicit fentanyl are being mass produced overseas and imported into the United States through organized crime syndicates and cartels. Ventura County law enforcement is regularly seizing fentanyl in bulk and in pill form in the county.
VC FOCUS is a task force made up of all Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.
VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.
The public may contact investigators from the VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or [email protected] with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.
As Red Ribbon Week is upon us, parents play an important role on educating their children, family and friends on the dangers of all drugs, including fentanyl.
