Narcotics Arrest 

November 21, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded an investigation into Albert Eklund who was involved in the sales of illegal narcotics to Ventura County residents.

VC FOCUS detectives received information that Eklund was selling illegal narcotics out of his residence in Panorama City. Detectives conducted surveillance operations in the area and observed Eklund selling narcotics from his residence.

On November 9, 2023, VC FOCUS detectives served a search warrant at Eklund’s residence where he was located inside and detained. During a search of the house, detectives located a loaded handgun, 82 grams of fentanyl, 137 grams of methamphetamine, 35 grams of cocaine, 5 grams of heroin, 1,500 amphetamine pills, 70 counterfeit fentanyl pills, PCP laced cigarettes and several hundred other pharmaceutical pills. 

Eklund was arrested for 11351 HS- Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance, 11378HS- Possession for Sales of a Dangerous Drug, 29800(a)(1) PC- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and 30305(a)(1) PC- Possession of Ammunition by a convicted Felon. He was booked into the Ventura County Pre Trial-Detention Facility with bail set at $100,000.

VC FOCUS is a task force made up of all 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 the 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: Narcotics Arrest

Report Number: 23-143748

Location: 14000 block of Lanark Street, Panorama City- CA

Date & Time: November 9, 2023 – 0400 hours

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

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