On February 29th, 2024, the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded a two-month long investigation with the arrest of Robert Baker on charges stemming from the sale of large quantities of methamphetamine to Ventura County residents.
Detectives served a search warrant at Baker’s residence in Sylmar and an additional ranch property in Sun Valley related to Baker. As a result of this investigation, detectives seized over two pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 1000 pharmaceutical pills, four rifles, five handguns, and a box containing military style plastic explosives and dynamite. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Arson / Explosives Detail assisted with removal and ultimate destruction of the explosives from the scene. A direct connection between Baker and the explosives could not be established at the time of the search warrant, however detectives are still attempting to identify their source and additional arrests may be forthcoming.
Baker was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Pre Trial-Detention Facility for 11379 HS- Sales of a Dangerous Drug. He was released from custody on March 2nd after posting $80,000 bail.
One of the local trends that VC FOCUS has been tracking is the addition of fentanyl to other drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine. This combination not only adds to the potency of the drug being purchased, but often causes unsuspecting users to suffer opioid related overdoses when they don’t know they are ingesting a drug as potent as fentanyl. This deadly poly-drug combination was noted in the recent 2023 Overdose Report by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office. Of the 234 accidental fatal overdoses suffered by Ventura County residents, 170 of those were cases where more than one drug was detected.
VC FOCUS is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies, the California Highway Patrol, and federal law enforcement partners. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.
VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Overdose Awareness & Solutions Team (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.
The public may contact investigators from the VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or [email protected] with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.
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