The Western El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team (WENET) is composed of one sergeant and five detectives. The goal of the detectives in WENET is to diligently and covertly investigate narcotics related criminal activity in El Dorado County. One detective is traditionally assigned to another investigative unit as a task force member. Task force agencies investigate large scale narcotics cases locally, throughout the State of California and nationwide. Narcotics Detectives participate in joint investigations with numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and a California regional drug task force.
The additional detectives assigned to WENET are responsible for investigating mid to high level narcotics crimes within El Dorado County. These investigations often take detectives out of county in order to identify and apprehend the source of the narcotics coming into El Dorado County. The Narcotics Unit served over 60 search warrants, wrote nearly 200 reports and made 92 arrests in 2018. Numerous covert and undercover operations were completed that resulted in the seizure of over 1,400 grams of heroin, 13.7 pounds of methamphetamine, over 3,000 pounds of processed marijuana, nearly 6,700 marijuana plants, eight Butane Honey Oil (BHO) labs and three methamphetamine labs. Detectives also seized over $79,000 in illegal narcotic sales proceeds and 33 firearms.
Narcotics
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As a result of this problem, WENET worked with El Dorado County Emergency Medical Services to create a Narcan program for first responders to use as a potential lifesaving measure if someone is found to be in distress from an opiate overdose.
WENET detectives were able to successfully identify a major methamphetamine and heroin sales organization suspected of trafficking and distributing multiple pounds of narcotics in El Dorado County. Through diligent efforts and investigation, WENET was able to arrest five subjects in the organization, seizing over 12 pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of heroin and over $18,000 in drug proceeds. This case resulted in multi-year prison sentences for several members in the group and had a significant impact on the flow of methamphetamine and heroin in El Dorado County.
While working with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the detectives began investigating a criminal organization suspected of producing illegally manufactured concentrated cannabis using solvent extraction. Solvent extraction methods are extremely dangerous and can lead to fire and explosions. Search warrants were served on multiple locations in multiple jurisdictions. Subsequently, three suspects were arrested and a closed loop BHO extraction system was safely dismantled and shut down. This case resulted in the seizure of close to 30 pounds of BHO, over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and an extraction system valued at well over $100,000.
The continuing drug trend in El Dorado County
that poses a risk to public safety is the opioid
epidemic. Heroin use, abuse and sales are a
critical area of investigation for WENET. An
emerging aspect of the opioid problem in our
county is the presence of Fentanyl, a synthetic
opioid that is 30-50 times more potent than
heroin. Illicit forms of Fentanyl are typically
seen in counterfeit pharmaceutical pills, but are
also seen in patch form and white powder.
WENET was able to seize a stolen IV bag
containing 75,000 micrograms of Fentanyl.
Regional task force members are seeing
Fentanyl being sold on the streets in powder
form as well.