Two Arrested During ‘Largest One-Time Seizure of Heroin in Humboldt County History,’ Says Drug Task Force
Adrian Carlos Cota-Alonso and Edgar Barragan-Castano | HCDTF
Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release:
On February 10th, 2019, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Special Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task
Force, with the assistance of narcotic detection K9 with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office,
conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1000 block of Hookton Road, Loleta. Agents had previously
received information, and obtained a search warrant, for a vehicle being driven by Adrian Carlos Cota-Alonso and Edgar Barragan-Castano (both from Sonora, Mexico). Agents established probable cause
to believe that both subjects were distributing multiple pounds of heroin in Humboldt County.
During the traffic stop, both subjects were detained without incident. Agents served the search warrant
and located a false compartment in the rear passenger seat. Agents opened this compartment and
located approximately 12 pounds of suspected heroin packaged for sales. Agents also seized over $6,000
in US currency that is believed to be profits of narcotics sales. This currency will be held pending asset
forfeiture proceedings.
Cota-Alonso and Barragan-Castano were subsequently transported to the Humboldt County Correctional
Facility where they were booked for possession and transportation of controlled substances for the
purpose of sales. Pursuant to PC 1275, agents were granted bail enhancements for both arrestees and
their bail was set at $100,000 each.
This is believed to be the largest one-time seizure of heroin in Humboldt County history.
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.