Federal and local narcotics agents arrested four alleged ringleaders of a Ventura County marijuana ring on Wednesday 29 October 2003.[1] Felix Magana, 28, and Miguel Vega, 24, both of Santa Paula, Ruben Estrada, 31, of Fillmore, and Peter Lozano, 28, of Oxnard were taken into federal custody in Los Angeles on drug trafficking charges, with money laundering charges also filed against Magana and Estrada.[1]
Investigators believe the ring, operating since 1999 or earlier with ties to local gangs, moved as much as $60 million of Mexican-grown marijuana from Santa Paula to distributors across the country.[1] The inquiry began in March 2000 after couriers carrying up to 100-pound backpacks were arrested in Arizona, and it produced 16 arrests in all: the four alleged ringleaders plus twelve lower-level dealers.[1] Officers seized two tons of marijuana with an estimated street value of $25 million.[1]
Smuggling route
Sheriff Bob Brooks said the cannabis crossed the United States-Mexico border in California and Arizona, was trucked to Santa Paula for packaging and distribution, and then moved on in campers, motor homes and cars, sometimes with members’ wives and children posing as families on outings.[1] Investigators estimated the ring moved about 12 tons a year to distributors statewide and in New York, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Colorado, Utah and Washington, spending profits on land in Mexico and flashy vehicles.[1] The DEA, United States Customs, immigration agents and Ventura County officers ran the investigation; all four men are American citizens with family ties to Mexico, two have criminal records, and all were considered flight risks.[1]
