During the month of July 2023, a deputy with Camarillo Patrol Services obtained information that Alexia Topete was involved in narcotics sales to residents of the City of Camarillo. The information was provided to detectives in the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) who commenced an investigation into the narcotics sales.
As the investigation unfolded, detectives learned Topete stored narcotics at her apartment located on the 700 block of Mobil Avenue as well as a storage unit located on the 700 block of Arcturus Avenue in the city of Oxnard. SEU detectives authored a search warrant for a search of the residence and the storage unit.
On October 19, 2023, detectives with SEU, the Camarillo Directed Enforcement Unit, the Camarillo Investigations Bureau, and Camarillo Patrol services served a search warrant at the apartment and storage unit.
During the execution of the search warrant, detectives contacted Topete and Jesse Ortiz at the residence. Topete and Ortiz were arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. During a search of Topete’s person, detectives located methamphetamine and fentanyl that she attempted to conceal.
During the search of the storage unit, detectives located approximately 911 grams of fentanyl, 144 grams of methamphetamine, an unregistered AR-15 assault rifle, and an unlawfully transferred handgun.
Topete was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine for sale and firearms charges. Ortiz was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Topete and Ortiz are being held on bail and are awaiting trial.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic. It is approximately one hundred times more potent than morphine and fifty times more potent than heroin. Unfortunately, it is highly addictive and extremely deadly when used in its illicit forms. Chemicals involved in producing illicit fentanyl are being mass produced overseas and imported into the United States through organized crime syndicates and cartels. Ventura County law enforcement is regularly seizing fentanyl in bulk and in pill form in the county.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl is 2 milligrams. The amount of fentanyl seized by SEU detectives was over 455,500 times the lethal dose amount of 2 milligrams.
The fentanyl crisis has affected all corners of the United States to include public figures such as professional athletes, musicians, actors, and tens of thousands of regular citizens in all walks of life. Despite collaborative countermeasures, we have also seen a continuous increase in both fatal and non-fatal fentanyl overdoses in Ventura County. Our county has experienced an increase in fentanyl related overdose deaths from 87 in 2020, to 181 in 2022.
The Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) is comprised of a sergeant and four detectives, whose focus is assisting patrol services with the investigation of various crimes including, but not limited to, the investigation of illegal firearms, gang related crimes, and graffiti vandalism.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.
Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
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