A year-long undercover investigation of local drug dealing concluded with 65 arrests and the seizure of drugs, weapons and cash, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday.
Operation Mountain Shadow was launched in October 2012 in response to numerous complaints from residents. During the investigation, undercover Sheriff’s deputies and Drug Enforcement Administration agents bought drugs and firearms from the suspects at various locations.
Law enforcement officers began making arrests Friday, then roughly 150 members of local and federal agencies carried out large-scale sweeps at homes and businesses in Ramona and Poway Tuesday morning.
Evidence seized during the entire operation included marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription pills, $230,000 in cash, 76 firearms and one live grenade. The drugs had an estimated street value of $2.1 million. Suspects face federal drug trafficking and could face other state charges.
The Sheriff’s Department says the operation grew out of tips from residents about suspicious behavior in their neighborhoods, and the results show the importance of reporting those activities.
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