[UPDATE 3:17 p.m.] Close to a Pound of Heroin and Around Three Pounds of Methamphetamine Found in Fortuna Apartment, Said Humboldt County Drug Task Force

Humboldt County Drug task forceClose to a pound of heroin and three pounds of meth as well as two loaded firearms were found at a Fortuna apartment building in the 2400 block of Newburg Road in Fortuna today, said Lt. Brian Quenell of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force.

The officers arrested Joaquin Verdugo-Martinez at the scene after serving a search warrant about 10 a.m.

“This is an ongoing investigation regarding the sales of narcotics from this location,” Quenell said. He also said this was unrelated to the nearly three pounds of heroin found on July 22 in a vehicle near Richardson Grove State Park.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.:

Joaquin Verdugo-MartinezOn July 25, 2017 at about 10:00 A.M. Special Agents served a search warrant on an apartment located in the 2400 block of Newberg Road in Fortuna. They were assisted by two narcotics detection K-9’s. One from the Sheriff’s Office and one from the District Attorney’s Office.

On scene, Agents located the target of their investigation, 24 year old Joaquin Verdugo-Martinez. In addition they located Joaquin’s live in girlfriend, her 3 year old son and Joaquin’s mother. Based on the month long investigation and evidence located on scene, Joaquin’s mother and live in girlfriend are not believed to be involved in the distribution of narcotics.

Inside the apartment Agents located approximately 1 pound of suspected heroin, three pounds of suspected methamphetamine, approximately 1 pound of suspected concentrated cannabis, two loaded firearms, digital scale, and packaging material.

Joaquin was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a narcotic for sale, possession of a firearm while in possession of a narcotic and child endangerment.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-444-8095 or the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 707-268-2539.

 

 

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Dan Fuller
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Dan Fuller
6 years ago

Great work & LONG OVERDUE, I wish they would put as much effort into busting Heroin & Meth as they do “Illegal Grows”!!!

A friend
Guest
A friend
6 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

Agree!

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
6 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

I don’t see the prohibitionists’ comments. Guess meth and smack aren’t as bad as the peabrains’ devil’s lettuce!

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

They never comment on these busts. Hard to stereo type, other than being Mexican.

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

Evidently, NO!!! Thankfully, ’cause I’m NOT in the mood for any Devil’s Lettuce comments today!!!

Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
Guest
Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

If it weren’t for weed growers these drugs wouldn’t be around.
Marijuana growers buy these drugs so they can traffic in humans, stay awake with delusional thoughts and sell their crappy on school playgrounds.
Taking these drugs off the street harms marijuana growers and keeps communities safe.
Getting rid of marijuana growing will get rid of other drugs, along with human and firearm trafficking.

Marijuana is the source of all crime with marijuana growers planning a second 911 and they must be stopped.

Triniboldticino
Guest
Triniboldticino
6 years ago

Talk about delusional. You werent’ missed over the past couple of days, believe me.

Dutcho
Guest
Dutcho
6 years ago

I disagree with you on that! Marijuana has many medicinal uses. It does not wreck your kidneys,liver,or any organ. The Mexican cartels are your problem! Get rid of their grows and export them back. They are the majority of problem!!!

Victor G. Flashman
Guest
Victor G. Flashman
6 years ago
Reply to  Dutcho

Marijuana is for losers. It has NO medicinal purpose, but is prescribed to make a doctor’s job easier… Everyone grow your own! The pot “business” is straight piracy! The only reason our government is adopting legalization is to save money.

A stoned population is easier to control! Get made into an american robot who doesn’t fight for their rights! Get high all day every day!

Buzzards nest
Guest
Buzzards nest
6 years ago

911 was over opium chump. Get your drugs striaght at least…..

Greatnortherness
Guest
Greatnortherness
6 years ago

Anyone ever say anything to you about being in the shallow end of the gene pool?

Victor G. Flashman
Guest
Victor G. Flashman
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

As bad as meth and smack are, there are only relatively few dealers here in “disneyland for druggies”, as opposed to 30,000 growers choking the place… AND, laws say one thing but behavior says quite another…

Victor G. Flashman
Guest
Victor G. Flashman
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

Meth is evil, and using it makes you into a pathetic slobbering slave. Shoot it up and risk Hep C, HIV, and horrible death. The worst thing I have seen lately is young women so spun they couldn’t even speak. Sad.

Or grow some weed! Cause America needs more dope smokers!

Yay
Guest
Yay
6 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

Hell yeah!!! If the cops want more public support this is the way to go

JustGeorge
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JustGeorge
6 years ago
Reply to  Yay

Yep

CA Armstrong
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CA Armstrong
6 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

Dan – BINGO!

Unicycle Maniac
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Unicycle Maniac
6 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

For sure!!!

Michelle Steele
Guest
Michelle Steele
6 years ago

I Agree 100% I am glad to see these people taken down and hopefully the D.A. will prosecute them and not just turn them loose. To Damn many drug dealers and addicts on our streets. They don’t realize drugs kill people off all the time and kids getting hooked on this crap really messes them up. Just watch the show intervention and see what it does.

Michelle Steele
Guest
Michelle Steele
6 years ago

GO LEO’S AND CAMP. GET AS MANY OF THEM OFF OUR STREETS AS YOU CAN.. KUDOS TO YOU ALL. BUT STAY SAFE OUT THERE WHEN BUSTING THESE IDIOTS..

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago

CAMP, in case you don’t know had little if anything to do with this bust Their initials spell it out quite well if you only READ!!! “Campaign Against Marijuana Planting” CAMP!!!!

MOGTX
Guest
6 years ago

I can’t believe what I’m reading but I am, so thrilled junkies are going to be pissed off,and sick . Keep up the good work law enforcement officers I wonder if they’re legal, or not probably not. I have no faith in the justice system especially after what maggie didn’t do for me.which was nothing .The richardson grove kid must have rolled .

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  MOGTX

The article said the 2 incidents were NOT related!!! So prob’ly not!!!

Shitty
Guest
Shitty
6 years ago

Herion take it all off the streets and meth. Good job on the bust.

Debra
Guest
Debra
6 years ago
Reply to  Shitty

I agree-get the meth, cocaine and heroin off the streets!

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
6 years ago

Three lbs. of meth and a lb. of smack. Until those drugs are regulated the criminals who make tons of $ off these horrible drugs will…continue to make tons of $ and ruin tons of lives. It’s everywhere and all the time, nowadays, thanks to the phony war on drugs and its useful pawns.

Yay
Guest
Yay
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

Yeah and we need the govt to stop letting their meth formulas out on the street. The military has been experimenting with different meth recipes for years for air force pilots to be able to fly long periods without sleep and to stay functional. I think they got to 36 hours straight flight. It was on the cover of Time magazine years ago, look it up.
There are lots and lots of meth labs all over the county and unfortunately a lit of users become “testers” for new formulas to see how potent and if it hurts them.

Mr Goodbar
Guest
Mr Goodbar
6 years ago
Reply to  Yay

[citation needed]

Meebee
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Meebee
6 years ago

Yes! Way to go LEOs! This crap destroys lives. Thank you.

shawn the fisherman
Guest
shawn the fisherman
6 years ago

The Mexicans seem to have the market cornered on meth and heroin. Wonder why? Tallibean…Is what the kids in Fortuna are calling Latin outlaws these days.

CA Armstrong
Guest
CA Armstrong
6 years ago

Heroin maybe. Meth is made anywhere, anytime. People crush up diet pills, run it through toxic chemicals, and call it meth. Its a very ‘local’ industry everywhere
in this country. Education is the only thing that has much force against meth. That, and the fact that it kills most of its users quickly.

Walter Jackson
Guest
6 years ago

2nd Big Bust. Where’s the Money? Hard to believe no money was found.

Zzpl
Guest
Zzpl
6 years ago
Reply to  Walter Jackson

Its in the cops pockets, they rarely report the money they find so they can take it. Ive seen people try to fight them on it and they’ll swear up and down there was no cash.
And no, not just for drug related charges, key word is charges. You can be totally innocent and theyll take your stuff and you gotta fight for it before they sell it at auction.

Thingso
Guest
Thingso
6 years ago
Reply to  Zzpl

Money gets wired to mexico.

THC
Guest
THC
6 years ago
Reply to  Zzpl

Actually, when dealing with organized crime such as Mexican cartels they’re not stupid enough to leave piles of cash around their drugs like dope Growers are. That money is in a different house or on its way back down south.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
6 years ago
Reply to  Walter Jackson

It’s there, they just didn’t find it.

Dutcho
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Dutcho
6 years ago
Reply to  Walter Jackson

Money didn’t make it back to the evidence locker lmao

The Hermit of Grizzly Mountain
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The Hermit of Grizzly Mountain
6 years ago

That sure is an ugly, poorly-designed task force patch logo!

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
6 years ago

Legalize all drugs! Don’t believe our government’s propaganda! The “War on drugs” is a hoax and you’re all the victims.

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
6 years ago

Most intelligent comment on this post.

at a loss
Guest
at a loss
6 years ago

Self medicating is the problem not the solution. Go into healthcare and be on receding of your self medicsting friends then come back to make your laissez faire comments.

judi
Guest
judi
6 years ago
Reply to  at a loss

self medicating is a symptom of the initial problem.
all humans seek out a way to achieve some relief from THE human condition, misery.
even a wrongly perceived misery is miserable, right?

i’ve seen people in their early 20’s drug sick as hell. a 25 yr old spun-son with a tweeked out wife w/ 2 kids told me the 1st time he did meth was when his dad gave him a line when he was 12.
this made me feel miserable. damn. damn IT.
i. am. fortunate.
aho!

THC
Guest
THC
6 years ago
Reply to  at a loss

So it’s only okay to do drugs if you have a prescription from your doctor? Some of the most abused prescription drugs are opiate based.

Teegan
Guest
Teegan
6 years ago

Since the 3 yo boy was more than likely born in the US, does that mean he gets to stay?

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
6 years ago
Reply to  Teegan

Nothing at all in this item that even suggests anyone involved is not an American. You are mighty quick to display your ignorance & racism.

THC
Guest
THC
6 years ago

I wonder, if a white guy was caught selling drugs in Mexico and someone on the local blogs down there made an observation such as, o another American caught selling drugs. would you consider that racist as well?

Since when did making the distinction between races become racist?

TM
Guest
TM
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Oh gosh Kym, didn’t you know ALL crimes are clearly committed by gay Mexican Muslim Liberal Socialists?
All of ’em I tell ya!

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, this will never change unless we get back to the roots.
The drug war inside our borders is unconstitutional. The government was never delegated the duty of protecting us from ourselves.
However, the drug war at the borders is indeed constitutional, because they are delegated the duties of all the foreign issues. We the people created the government to act as an AGENT for all foreign matters, which consists of negotiations, treaties, war, peace, commerce. Only a few duties were delegated for internal issues, and even these internal issues were only delegated as a means for carrying out the external duties. (post offices, forts, ports, ammo dumps..).
The drugs that came in to our country obviously came in to our country from external countries not united within the construct of our united states.
The narrative sucks, yes, blaming a “race”. But, come on! A “Mexican” is NOT A RACE! A Mexican is any person of any gene makeup/chemistry, who RESIDES in Mexico. The same for Bulgarians, Russians, Africans, Ethiopians, Indians and so on.
An American is any person who swore under oath to be a good constitutional American citizen during their citizenship ceremony. An American is any person who was born and raised in America, learned the Constitution, and hopefully defends the document. (the document does not defend anyone, it is up to each person to defend IT). Americans are mutts who seek liberty.
Allowing foreigners to dictate, fundamentally change, abuse, insult, our liberty is insane.
We are supposed to be united in principles of liberty. We are supposed to be holding the press, the politicians, the pastors, the teachers, accountable.
Instead, we fight each other, calling each other names.
You know all this. You’re an awesome person. Yet, even awesome people get caught up in the narratives that the enemies create for the sole purpose of dividing and conquering. We must hold each other accountable.

REALLY !?
Guest
REALLY !?
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s funny to see most of the comment on this are by folks who really think they know what they’re talking about.. But most are nonsensical rants by the least knowledgeable, least informed.. Or by conspiracy theorists somehow tieing it in to a government cover-up !
A couple comments where two people trying to impress everyone about CAMP, on a heroin bust..made me flat out laugh.. I guess they haven’t noticed that they stopped flying those CAMP helicopters about 5 years ago at least !
Amazing how common uncommon sense is with a lot of folks !

Teegan
Guest
Teegan
6 years ago

Well, technically Mexico is in North America, hence, American. That would make Mexican’s also Native American.

Cole s
Guest
Cole s
6 years ago

Money?

Mosquitoville
Guest
Mosquitoville
6 years ago

No money, dont know nithing bout no money,..what is money?
They pocket cash, standard procedure, especially with that much meth and h to show.
All that meth would of kept all of eureka uo for about a month. But hey the cartel has got someone on the way to re up the supply guaranteed.
Good nob on getting this guy off the street!

Local
Guest
Local
6 years ago

Of course it’s a [edit} ….they’re the big Herion and meth dealer across the country! {Editor’s Note: Please no racist remarks. Note that when a caucasian was arrested earlier you didn’t say that they are the biggest dealers in the US–and they are]

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
6 years ago

More on this story….. Back to you Frank….. As we’ve said, Martinez was arrested, but we are now learning he was released on OR. Deputies told me Martinez pinky swears to show up for court…..

Diesel dually
Guest
Diesel dually
6 years ago

Naughty. 12 minutes in jail, can’t afford more… OH, we keep all cash guns and drugs!

Thanks to the FPD for harassing and marginally disrupting the 24/7 drug party! Can’t stop them, but we can take some supplies temporarily…

Crime stopper
Guest
Crime stopper
6 years ago

Is he an illegal? Fortuna loves all the illegals because of the money money and no care where it came from. Fortuna has thousands of illegals and this dude is just an example of what they’re capable of hauling into California in their NAFTA produce(?) trucks without search. Wake up everyone, drugs are prolific and we condone their presence by not enforcing ICE polices and arrest.

Mule
Guest
Mule
6 years ago

Excellent! Great to see the Sheriff’s Department finally stepping up and doing a significant bust! Way to go!

Now if only they don’t release him on his recognizance, like they’ve been doing with cartel mules for the last couple of years.

Maybe the new Sheriff in town is cracking down…!

MOGTX
Guest
6 years ago

couldn’t be more true crimestopper the Mexicans have been the head dope dealers for 25 yrs .I thought everybody knew that.trailer scum park .we all know were it is has all the meth in town .were was tuna coos on this raid.tje prep don’t look to worried.

MendocinoMamma
Guest
MendocinoMamma
6 years ago

[edit] laughing all the way to the bank when they get your whomever hooked on the crap. 24 years old he looks like he’s in his thirties. I’m sure all of his customers don’t look so great either. What a mess. Why the hell is everybody so attracted to the crap anyway it just makes you want to sleep all day or stay up for days and you look like a zombie such redeeming qualities!!!

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

Wholly shit that’s alot.glad no more will reach the streets.

Hello
Guest
Hello
6 years ago

Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaasa. PARTY IN FORTUNA. 😁 That’s my gack face.

Brian
Guest
Brian
6 years ago

3 days ago in Red Bluff; 66 lbs meth were rolled up after 2 year investigation.

I assume some of that would have come into all our counties.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/2017/07/23/agents-seize-66-pounds-meth-two-mercedes-and-corvette-drug-bust/501768001/

Brian
Guest
Brian
6 years ago
Reply to  Brian
Bro-Hum
Guest
Bro-Hum
6 years ago

I could get all of the Meth and Heroin off our streets in 1 year if the “criminal justice” didn’t stand in my way.

dolorfinis
Guest
dolorfinis
6 years ago

Stop the drug war with objective of shutting down the black market. The drug war has failed. The drug war is driving the problems, not fixing them. Decriminalization/legalization is necessary, it needs to be backed up with public health announcements explaining exactly why it is needed. Its not in any way condoning the abuse of addictors, it is done bc the alternative, the drug war, has made things infinitely worse on almost every level, to include making drugs abundantly available to any & all that wants them.

We need to pull LE out of the drug biz – that will free up a lot of resources currently chasing their collective tails. When the laws create more harm and cause more damage than they prevent, its time to change the laws. The $1 TRILLION so-called war on drugs is a massive big government failure – on nearly every single level. Its way past time to put the cartels & black market drug dealers out of business. Mass incarceration has failed. We cant even keep drugs out of a contained & controlled environment like prison.

We need the science of addiction causation to guide prevention, treatment, recovery & public policies. Otherwise, things will inexorably just continue to worsen & no progress will be made. Addiction causation research has continued to show that some people (suffering with addiction) have a “hypo-active endogenous opioid/reward system.” This is the (real) brain disease, making addiction a symptom, not a disease itself. One disease, one pathology. Policy must be made reflecting addiction(s) as the health issue that it is.

The war on drugs is an apotheosis of the largest & longest war failure in history. It actually exposes our children to more harm & risk and does not protect them whatsoever. In all actuality, the war on drugs is nothing more than an international projection of a domestic psychosis. It is not the “great child protection act,” its actually the complete opposite. Let’s remember, opioids (drug) prohibition is a historical and cultural aberration, just 100 years old. We had fewer drug problems in my own grandparents’ time when opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine and cannabis could all still be bought legally over the counter. (Re)legalizing opioids would not be a “risky social experiment,” as some think. On the contrary, drugs prohibition was the reckless social experiment. And its a massive failure. Alcohol prohibition didn’t work, and opioid prohibition is failing even more miserably. The longer we’ve had drug prohibition laws in place, the worse have the social and health problems they cause gotten.

The lesson is clear: Drug laws do not stop people from harming themselves, but they do cause addicts to commit crimes and harm others. We need a new approach that decriminalizes the disease. We must protect society from the collateral damage of addiction and stop waging war on ourselves. We need common sense harm reduction approaches desperately. MAT (medication assisted treatment) and HAT (heroin assisted treatment) must be available options. Of course, MJ should not be a sched drug at all.  Every human being is precious, worthy of love and belonging, and deserves opportunities to fulfill his or her potential regardless of past trauma, mental and emotional anguish, addictive behaviors or mistakes made.

judi
Guest
judi
6 years ago
Reply to  dolorfinis

i believe the times, and we as a society, have changed too greatly to think we can stop this steamroller & contagious nature of the addictions we’re living with today.

faith in the spiritual, family, community and justice evolved into the industrial revolution. it allowed us to start moving as far away from our nuclear/families of origin and it became important that we were buying stuff and having stuff.

our parents watched their parents use barbiturates, we watched our parents relax over cocktails and benzodiazepines.
we had those drugs and even funner ones PLUS rock and roll! and sex.
we took hedonism too far?
we’ve lost the ability to self-comforting ourselves w/o some substance?
it’s much faster, easier more time-effective to comfort w/ alcohol and other drugs than go do something healthy.
humans are not only stopped evolving, we’re in decline.

the explosions of meth @ heroine i’ve seen these last 20 yrs are insane and are torching every family, neighborhood.

so, maybe we’re too far gone to consider total legalization on drugs,
but i agree the war on drugs is a proven disaster and designed to make more wealth for the wealthy.

well, that’s one of my theories…
i got a shit load of em…

TM
Guest
TM
6 years ago
Reply to  judi

Interesting take. Lest you think the ‘users’ are the problem, here is another interesting tidbit however:

http://theantimedia.org/cocaine-production-plummets-after-dea-kicked-out-of-bolivia/

Gkez
Guest
Gkez
6 years ago
Reply to  dolorfinis

Thank you, for putting a factual perspective on the real problem.

SuperDuperD
Guest
SuperDuperD
6 years ago
Reply to  dolorfinis

Some people cannot handle much freedom, don’t know what to do with themselves, need a job

sharon
Guest
6 years ago

I was told this from a hispanic coworker a few months back. Yes many sell hard drugs, not caring what it does to our communities. They send the money back. Trace where the money goes. The sellers don’t use, just sell it. So as americans, immigrants, all of us, must find a way, to resist these drugs. Inform kids, not just yours, but all kids, the danger of pills, heroin, etc. All of my kids best friends are hispanic, and I love them all. They know where i stand on drugs. Hard drugs. Not mj. Not the same. At all. Bottom line is- talk to your kids-make the time-make it easy for them to talk to you. Don’t judge. And above all else, jusy givem a hug. Peace out🌹🌻🌼💖

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

I don’t care who you are these drugs are killing people everyday. It killed my cousin,and friends. It’s a dark place. They say walk a mile in my shoes,I HAVE.Be kind to one another!