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Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

Contreras.

On August 31st, 2019, at approximately 12:30 a.m., special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of a narcotic detection K9 from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, and officers with the California Highway Patrol, conducted a traffic stop on Highway 254 near the town of Phillipsville. After a year-long investigation, HCDTF agents identified Fidel Alberto Contreras (age 35) as a key suspect in methamphetamine distribution throughout Humboldt County. Through their investigation, agents were able to track Contreras to Southern California and believed that he was traveling back to Humboldt County with a significant amount of methamphetamine. As a result, agents were able to secure a search warrant for Contreras’ vehicle and his residence.

During the traffic stop, Contreras was detained without incident. The narcotics detection K9 was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. Agents searched the vehicle and located approximately 20 pounds of suspected methamphetamine packaged for sales. Contreras was subsequently placed under arrest and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for possession and transportation of controlled substances. Agents obtained a 1275 PC hold on Contreras until a source of legitimate bail funds could be examined during a court hearing.

Agents then served a search warrant at Contreras’ residence (located in the 3300 block of High Street, Eureka) and located over $35,000 in U.S. Currency. This currency is believed to be profits from narcotics distribution and will be held pending future asset forfeiture proceedings.

This investigation has resulted in the largest one-time seizure of methamphetamine in the history of HCDTF.