Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On August 30, 2018, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Special Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) served multiple search warrants at various locations in Arcata and Eureka.

After a multi-week investigation, special agents were able to identify Arcata resident and business owner Ariel Arguelles-Sosa (age 40) as a suspected narcotics dealer within Humboldt County communities.

At approximately 6:45 p.m., agents spotted Arguelles-Sosa inside a parked vehicle near the intersection of Russ and I Street, Eureka. Agents detained Arguelles-Sosa, along with his associate, Abdiel Parras-Sosa (age 20), and served a search warrant on the vehicle.
Agents located just over a 1/4 pound of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 17 grams of suspected cocaine. Both subjects were arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) on charges of transporting and possessing controlled substances for sales.

At approximately 7:40 p.m., agents served a second warrant at a residence located in the 1100 block of Cedar Drive, Arcata. At this location agents contacted another one of Arguelles-Sosa’s associates, Miguel Angel Garcia (age 32), and detained him while they searched his residence. Additional suspected cocaine, along with a firearm, was located inside Garcia’s residence. Garcia was subsequently transported to the HCCF where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance and related firearms violations.

Later in the evening agents served additional search warrants at Arguelles-Sosa’s business, located in the 600 block of F Street, Arcata, as well as his residence, located in the 4000 block of Ponderosa Way, Arcata. At this location agents located approximately 3 pounds of suspected cocaine, 2 ounces of methamphetamine, and 4 ounces of heroin.

Agents also seized approximately $65,000 in U.S. currency and two of Arguelles-Sosa’s vehicles. The currency and vehicles are believed to be the proceeds of narcotics sales and will be held pending asset forfeiture proceedings.

Arguelles-Sosa’s bail was set at $500,000. The HCDTF was assisted by officers from the California Highway Patrol, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Arcata Police Department, Eureka Police Department, and Investigators from Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office.

This is believed to be one of the largest Humboldt County cocaine seizures in recent 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