Community
Narrative:
Five members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of bulk quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine to residents of Ventura County were arrested.
After a month-long investigation, detectives identified Oxnard resident, Erik Gutierrez as a cocaine distributor responsible for disseminating narcotics to street level drug traffickers and users. Detectives identified Armando Soto, as the source of supply responsible for coordinating the delivery of cocaine and methamphetamine to Gutierrez and other co-conspirators. Detectives confirmed Armando Soto utilized drug couriers, such as Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa to deliver narcotics to customers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Detectives confirmed Soto, Santoyo, and Sosa lived together in the city of Granada Hills. In addition, detectives identified Andrew Baz, as a co-conspirator responsible for storing narcotics and illegal drug proceeds for this organization.
On December 4, 2025, narcotics detectives served a search warrant at Soto’s residence located in the 16000 Block of Kalisher Street, city of Los Angeles in an area known as Granada Hills and Baz’s residence located in the 16000 Block of Victory Blvd, city of Los Angeles in an area known as Van Nuys. Soto was detained pursuant to a search warrant. During the search, detectives located approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine, a rifle, ammunition, four handguns, U.S. Currency, and additional evidence to support drug sales. During the search of Baz’s residence, detectives seized approximately 67 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl, cocaine, promethazine, several hundred oxycodone pills, six rifles, and three handguns.
Soto and Baz were arrested and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violation of HS 11378 - Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance, HS 11379(a) - Transportation of a Controlled Substance, PC 182(a)(1)-Conspiracy to Commit a Crime and numerous weapons violations.
On December 5, 2025, narcotics detectives detained Gutierrez in the City of Oxnard. Gutierrez was in possession of cocaine and other evidence to support drug sales. A search of Gutierrez’ residence, located in the 300 block of Libre Street, City of Oxnard was conducted. As a result, approximately one kilogram of cocaine was seized, along with methamphetamine and additional evidence to support drug sales. Gutierrez was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violation of HS 11351 - Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales.
On December 11, 2025, narcotics detectives arrested Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa for their involvement in this drug trafficking organization. Santoyo was arrested for violation of HS 11351 -Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance, HS 11352(a) - Sale/Transportation of a Controlled Substance and PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. Sosa was arrested for violation of HS 11378 - Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance, HS 11379(a) - Sale/Transportation of a Controlled Substance and PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. Both Santoyo and Sosa were booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint on Gutierrez, Soto, and Sosa. The criminal case for Santoyo is under review by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The criminal case for Baz will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing.
The Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCCAT) is comprised of investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the California National Guard, and the District Attorney’s Office. VCCAT adheres to a multijurisdictional collaborative approach to reduce the impact of illicit drugs in Ventura County. VCCAT focuses on major and mid-level drug offenders and their organizations that operate and/or conduct their illegal business ventures in Ventura County and whose illegal activities negatively impact the residents of our county.
Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled
| Nature of Incident: | Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled | |||
| Report Number: | 25-154860 | |||
| Locations: | 300 Block of Libre Street, Oxnard 16000 Block of Kalisher Street, Los Angeles 16000 Block of Victory Blvd, Los Angeles |
|||
| Date & Time: | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCCAT), Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Unit (VCFOCUS) and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Street Team (NST). |
|||
| Suspect |
City of Residence |
Age | ||
| (S) Erik Gutierrez (S) Armando Soto (S) Jose Santoyo (S) Manuel Sosa (S) Andrew Baz |
Oxnard, CA Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA |
29 29 28 28 25 |
||
Five members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of bulk quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine to residents of Ventura County were arrested.
After a month-long investigation, detectives identified Oxnard resident, Erik Gutierrez as a cocaine distributor responsible for disseminating narcotics to street level drug traffickers and users. Detectives identified Armando Soto, as the source of supply responsible for coordinating the delivery of cocaine and methamphetamine to Gutierrez and other co-conspirators. Detectives confirmed Armando Soto utilized drug couriers, such as Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa to deliver narcotics to customers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Detectives confirmed Soto, Santoyo, and Sosa lived together in the city of Granada Hills. In addition, detectives identified Andrew Baz, as a co-conspirator responsible for storing narcotics and illegal drug proceeds for this organization.
On December 4, 2025, narcotics detectives served a search warrant at Soto’s residence located in the 16000 Block of Kalisher Street, city of Los Angeles in an area known as Granada Hills and Baz’s residence located in the 16000 Block of Victory Blvd, city of Los Angeles in an area known as Van Nuys. Soto was detained pursuant to a search warrant. During the search, detectives located approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine, a rifle, ammunition, four handguns, U.S. Currency, and additional evidence to support drug sales. During the search of Baz’s residence, detectives seized approximately 67 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl, cocaine, promethazine, several hundred oxycodone pills, six rifles, and three handguns.
Soto and Baz were arrested and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violation of HS 11378 - Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance, HS 11379(a) - Transportation of a Controlled Substance, PC 182(a)(1)-Conspiracy to Commit a Crime and numerous weapons violations.
On December 5, 2025, narcotics detectives detained Gutierrez in the City of Oxnard. Gutierrez was in possession of cocaine and other evidence to support drug sales. A search of Gutierrez’ residence, located in the 300 block of Libre Street, City of Oxnard was conducted. As a result, approximately one kilogram of cocaine was seized, along with methamphetamine and additional evidence to support drug sales. Gutierrez was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violation of HS 11351 - Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales.
On December 11, 2025, narcotics detectives arrested Jose Santoyo and Manuel Sosa for their involvement in this drug trafficking organization. Santoyo was arrested for violation of HS 11351 -Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance, HS 11352(a) - Sale/Transportation of a Controlled Substance and PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. Sosa was arrested for violation of HS 11378 - Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance, HS 11379(a) - Sale/Transportation of a Controlled Substance and PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. Both Santoyo and Sosa were booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint on Gutierrez, Soto, and Sosa. The criminal case for Santoyo is under review by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The criminal case for Baz will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing.
The Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCCAT) is comprised of investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the California National Guard, and the District Attorney’s Office. VCCAT adheres to a multijurisdictional collaborative approach to reduce the impact of illicit drugs in Ventura County. VCCAT focuses on major and mid-level drug offenders and their organizations that operate and/or conduct their illegal business ventures in Ventura County and whose illegal activities negatively impact the residents of our county.
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511
