MCSO: Drug-smuggling ring at jail busted

UPDATE 5/11/2017 5:50 p.m.:

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office busted a drug smuggling operation at its jail. The investigation began in April after crystal methamphetamine was intercepted in mail received at the jail.

“We noticed it and we used the post office as an aid and their investigators to figure out where the parcels are coming from and use their services to identify where things are being shipped from,” Cmdr. John Thornburg said.

Authorities identified three addresses tied to the parcels and on Wednesday, served several search warrants on Garner and Mae Avenues in Salinas.

“We heard a big explosion in the street and 15-20 minutes later, the soldiers (SWAT members) showed up and a lot of anti-narcotic officers and then an officer arrested a person,” a witness told us.

At those locations, more than two pounds of meth, two pounds of marijuana and other drug-related paraphernalia were seized, along with thousands of dollars in cash. Two fake guns and two actual guns were also found. Authorities believe the drugs were going to eventually be sent to the jail.

Four suspects have been taken into custody, all have gang ties and prior felony arrests.

Michael Meza, 36; Gregorio Solis, 27; Luz Solis, 28; and Sergio Ruiz, 34, were arrested and are now facing drug or weapon charges.

Six inmates have also been identified as receiving the parcels: Jose Meza, Jameson Davis, Jesse Martinez, Anthony Contreras, Jose Estrada and Jesus Flores.

There are many ways drugs can be smuggled into the jail. It can be concealed under a stamp or in the flap of an envelope. In this case, letters were soaked in a meth solution, dried out, then the meth-infused mail was sent off.

The jail receives hundreds of pieces of mail every day. We wanted to see what safeguards are in place to stop drugs and other contraband from getting in.

All inmate mail is opened and searched. Legal mail is opened in front of an inmate. There are several tests that can detect the presence of drugs.

“It is a serious concern for us here at the Sheriff’s Office about drugs coming into the jail,” Thornburg said. “Cause the inmates at the jail may not necessarily use the drugs themselves. They may use them to gain favor or some sort of prestige or some kind of status thing inside the jail themselves. It’s a rampant problem, it’s not just a problem in the street. Here at the Sheriff’s Office, we have to keep them out of the jail.”

ORIGINAL POST:

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office busted a drug smuggling operation at its jail.

The investigation began in April after crystal methamphetamine was discovered in the jail. Investigators began tracking how the drugs were getting in and discovered it was coming in through parcels being mailed to inmates at the jail.

Authorities identified three addresses tied to the parcels and on Wednesday, served three search warrants on Garner and Mae Avenues in Salinas.

At those locations, more than two pounds of meth, two pounds of marijuana and other drug-related paraphernalia were seized, along with thousands of dollars in cash. Two fake guns and two actual guns were also found. Authorities believe the drugs were going to eventually be sent to the jail.

Four suspects have been taken into custody, all have gang ties and prior felony arrests.

Michael Meza, 36; Gregorio Solis, 27; Luz Solis, 28; and Sergio Ruiz, 34, were arrested and are now facing drug or weapon charges.