July 7, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on July 5, 2023, Investigators with the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded an investigation into a narcotics delivery service that was responsible for supplying fentanyl and other drugs to Ventura County residents.

Detectives with VC FOCUS, assisted by detectives with the Thousand Oaks Police Directed Enforcement Unit, conducted a surveillance operation after identifying drivers who were working on behalf of narcotics delivery services operated by Mexican drug cartels. The profits from the narcotics sold by these delivery services are then funneled back to these drug cartels operating in Mexico. These services are directly managed by drug cartel members outside the United States who facilitate the mass delivery of narcotics to subjects all throughout Southern California using “delivery drivers”.

Detectives were following one of these drivers and observed what appeared to be a narcotics transaction in the city of Camarillo. After the deal, detectives worked with patrol resources in the area to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle for several vehicle code violations. Deputies identified the driver as Kevin Montano Chavez who stated he was transient and recently moved to the United States from Sinaloa, Mexico.  

Deputies obtained consent to search the vehicle that was registered out of the city of El Monte in Los Angeles County. Deputies located ½ lb. of powder fentanyl, ½ lb. of heroin, 2,023 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and $1,412 in US Currency derived from drug sales.

Montano Chavez was arrested for 11351 HS- Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance and 11352 HS- Transportation of a Controlled Substance. He is currently being held at the Ventura County Jail on $50,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment on July 7, 2023.

Counterfeit M-30 (Oxycodone) pills are highly abused and often contribute to fatal and non-fatal overdoses within Ventura County. These counterfeit pills are mass produced by drug cartels and sold throughout the United States for large profits. The pills look identical to legitimate medications and are mixed with fentanyl. As little as 2mg of fentanyl is considered to be a lethal dose of this deadly drug. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimates that six out of every ten pills currently seized by law enforcement agencies across the United States are counterfeit and contain fentanyl which make them extremely dangerous to the community.

The VC FOCUS is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.

VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.

The public may contact investigators from VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or VCFOCUS@ventura.org with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.                     

Nature of Incident: Arrest Related to Narcotics Delivery Service

Report Number: RB #23-85816

Location: 1316 Ventura Boulevard - Camarillo

Date & Time: July 5, 2023 - 1800 Hours

Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS)

Thousand Oaks Police Department Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU)

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source & photo: Ventura County Sheriff's Office