Narcotics
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The Western El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement
Team (WENET) is composed of one sergeant and
four detectives. The goal of WENET is to
diligently and covertly investigate narcotics
related criminal activity in El Dorado County.
One of the detectives is traditionally assigned to
a regional task force. Task force agencies
investigate large scale narcotics cases
throughout California and the United States in
addition to cases in El Dorado County.
Detectives participate in joint investigations
with numerous law enforcement agencies,
including the Drug Enforcement Administration
and a California HIDTA regional task force.
The additional detectives assigned to WENET are
responsible for investigating mid to high level
narcotics investigations within El Dorado
County. These investigations often take
detectives out of the county in order to identify and apprehend the source of the narcotics
coming into El Dorado County. 2017 was
another busy year for the unit with ongoing
changes in the law such as decriminalization, the
legalization of recreational marijuana and the
Medical Marijuana Regulatory Safety Act. The
narcotics unit served over 50 search warrants,
wrote over 140 reports and made 92 arrests in
2017. Numerous covert and undercover
operations were completed that resulted in the
seizure of 1606 pharmaceutical pills, 161 grams
of heroin, 56.5 pounds of methamphetamine,
911 pounds of processed marijuana, over
24,000 marijuana plants and two butane honey
oil labs. Detectives also seized over $100,000 in
illegal narcotic sales proceeds and 52 firearms.
Through the numerous investigations
conducted by WENET in 2017, several emerging
drug trends presented themselves in our county.
These included the rise in heroin and
pharmaceutical use. Heroin and opioid related
overdoses are a serious cause for concern in El
Dorado County. Opiate related cases will be a
topic of priority for WENET moving forward as
the problem continues to grow nationally. The
threat of fentanyl is still a major health and
safety concern in El Dorado County as well. In
the winter of 2017, WENET and the Concord
Police Department were able to coordinate
efforts and arrest an individual selling fentanyl
in El Dorado County. The suspect was arrested
in Concord with over an ounce of fentanyl for the
purpose of sale. WENET continues to work with
state and federal agencies to locate and bring to
justice the source and supply of these drugs.
In the spring of 2017, WENET investigated a heroin, firearm and methamphetamine ring in South Lake Tahoe. Numerous search warrants were served and interviews conducted in a short time period. As a result, detectives seized a large amount of firearms, over $16,000 in cash as well as heroin and methamphetamine. The case led to the cleanup of a commercial building being used for sales of narcotics and stolen property in South Lake Tahoe.
In the fall of 2017, WENET began investigating the shipment of a suspicious package. As the investigation progressed, detectives were able to identify a suspect and his residence. A search warrant was served at the suspect’s home, resulting in the discovery of a large scale commercial butane honey oil lab that was dismantled with the assistance of El Dorado County Hazmat. In addition, close to 300 pounds of marijuana, over $11,000 cash and four firearms were seized.
WENET also partners with members of the community to help educate the public and youth in the dangers of using narcotics and the impact it has on the community. Detectives participate in community meetings, Citizen Academy presentations and annual Red Ribbon Week presentations.