Four-Month Undercover Investigation Yields Two Arrests, 258 Pounds of Weed, 2 Pounds of Cocaine, 8 Firearms and a Lot of Cash, Drug Task Force Says

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LoCO Staff / Today @ 11:38 a.m. / Crime

Four-Month Undercover Investigation Yields Two Arrests, 258 Pounds of Weed, 2 Pounds of Cocaine, 8 Firearms and a Lot of Cash, Drug Task Force Says

Photos courtesy HCDTF

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office — Drug Task Force:

In November of 2024, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) opened an investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) based out of Guatemala and operating in Humboldt County. The HCDTF identified Oscar Rocael Cruz-Ramos (Age 29) as a narcotics trafficker for this DTO. The HCDTF was able to successfully introduce an undercover agent to Cruz-Ramos. From November 2024 to March 2025, the undercover agent met with Cruz-Ramos on several occasions where they were able to purchase multiple ounces of cocaine and a firearm.
On March 14th, 2025, the undercover agent requested to purchase 2.2 pounds (street value of $22,000) of cocaine from Cruz-Ramos. Cruz-Ramos agreed to meet the undercover agent at an undisclosed location in Eureka. Cruz-Ramos and a female, who was later identified as Yamileth Rodas-Larios (Age 26), arrived at the location and sold 2.2 pounds of cocaine to the undercover agent. At the conclusion of the transaction, both Cruz-Ramos and Rodas-Larios were taken into custody by the HCDTF.
After Cruz-Ramos and Rodas-Larios were taken into custody, Agents with the HCDTF, Deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office, Officers with the Arcata Police Department, Investigators with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, an Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Agents with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), served a multi-location search warrant on properties associated with Cruz-Ramos. The properties consisted of a residence located on the 3100 block of High Street in Eureka, a residence located in the 1000 block of Meadow Lane in Fortuna, and Cruz-Ramos’ residence located in the 6500 block of Highway 36 in Carlotta.

At the High Street address, Agents located a small amount of cocaine, 92 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sales, and $2,847.00 in US Currency.
At the Meadow Street address, Agents located 8 firearms including an AK-47 assault rifle and a non-serialized AR-15 assault rifle. Agents also located $226,305.00 in US Currency, 15 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sales, multiple high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and money transfer receipts from the United States to Mexico.
At Cruz-Ramos’ residence on Highway 36 in Carlotta, Agents located 48 pounds of processed marijuana packed for sales, 174 growing marijuana plants, two firearms, including a personally manufactured firearm (PMF) AR-15 assault rifle with no serial number, and multiple money transfer receipts from the United States to Mexico.
At the conclusion of the search warrant, Cruz-Ramos and Rodas-Larios were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where they were both booked on the following charges:
11351 HS — Possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales
11352(A) HS — Trafficking narcotics
11359(B)HS — Possession of marijuana for sale
182(A)(1)PC — Conspiracy to commit a crime
12022(A)(1)PC — Commit a felony while armed
26500(A)PC — Selling a firearm without a license
30600(A)PC — Manufacturing an assault weapon
23900(A)PC — Removing ID marks from a firearm
On March 18th, 2025, Agents with the HCDTF, Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Investigators with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office served a search warrant at two more properties located in the 6500 block of 2nd Street in Fields Landing and a business located in the 400 block of South Fortuna Boulevard.

At the 2nd Street residence, Agents located 103 pounds of processed marijuana that were packaged for sales.
At the business located on South Fortuna Blvd., Agents located hundreds of money transfer receipts. Upon reviewing most of the receipts, Agents observed that most of the transfers were money going from Humboldt County to Mexico and Guatemala. Agents also located receipts from Cruz-Ramos and other previous subjects of HCDTF investigations, transferring money from Humboldt County to Mexico and Guatemala. Agents also located $14,774.00 in US Currency. Fortuna Police K9 Cain alerted to the cash, indicating the presence of narcotics.
Prior to serving the search warrant at the business on S Fortuna Blvd., the HCDTF reviewed financial records from this business for 2024. In 2024, this single business transferred over $11,000,000 to Mexico and Guatemala.
The HCDTF is continuing their investigation into this Drug Trafficking Organization. Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.