Photo shows some of the myriad of guns, illegal drugs and stacks of cash confiscated by the Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit, which focuses on drug and gang interdiction. Submitted photo
The County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Operations Unit recently released stats on its war against gangs and illegal drugs, and the specially focused squad has accomplished a lot.
“The SOU,” reads a news release from Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla, “is comprised of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force and the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit. The data highlights the totals of arrests and confiscations for the SOU for the current year starting in January.”
Cipolla added that while the year isn’t over yet, it’s showing a “large increase in the amount of narcotics seized compared to the entire year of 2023.”
To date, the Unit has conducted more than 50 investigations. “Detectives in the unit,” Cipolla said, “have authored more than 100 search warrants, which resulted in more than 30 cases where the suspects involved were either arrested or the cases were filed with the District Attorney’s Office for criminal filing.”
The SOU confiscated “an extensive list of illegal substances, firearms, and other contraband,” Cipolla said. “Every city and most major unincorporated areas of the county are represented in these totals.”
The SOU so far in 2024 has seized: 1.18 pounds of heroin; 15.51 lbs. of methamphetamine; 58 grams of MDMA; 3.23 lbs. of fentanyl; 5.71 lbs. of cocaine; 250 marijuana plants; 20 lbs. of marijuana; 2.5 lbs. of psilocybin mushrooms; 4.47 lbs. of illegal pills; 176 grams of LSD; 12,939 counterfeit Adderall pills; 39,450 Farmapram Xanax pills; and 2 lbs. of ketamine.
That last one, ketamine, has been in the news lately in connection with the 2023 overdose death of famed actor, Matthew Perry, as several high-profile arrests were recently made of people accused of supplying him what is normally a prescription-only drug used in operations. The arrests included two doctors.
The Sheriff’s Unit seized a lot more than just drugs. “In addition, the SOU seized 149 firearms and one flame thrower, which were either illegally possessed or possessed in conjunction with controlled substances,” Cipolla said.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of $240,743 under asset forfeiture, he added.
The Sheriff is pleased with their efforts. “The dedication and relentless efforts of our Special Operations Unit have made a significant impact on the safety and well-being of our community,” Sheriff Ian Parkinson said. “By targeting and dismantling these criminal networks, we are sending a clear message that illegal activities will not be tolerated.”
