An investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization based out of Guatemala and operating in Humboldt County was initiated by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force in November of 2024.
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force identified 29 year old Oscar Rocael Cruz-Ramos as a narcotics trafficker for this Drug Trafficking Organization and was successfull introducing 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 of cocaine with a street value of $22,000, and Cruz-Ramos agreed to meet the undercover agent at an undisclosed location in Eureka.
Cruz-Ramos and a female, who was later identified as 26 year old Yamileth Rodas-Larios, 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 Humboldt County Drug Task Force.
After Cruz-Ramos and Rodas-Larios were taken into custody, multiple agencies including, 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, Agents with the Bureau of Land Management, as well as Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, served a multi-location search warrant on properties associated with Cruz-Ramos.
At one the three locations, Agents located a small amount of cocaine, 92 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sales, and $2,847.00 in US Currency.
Agents at another of the locations, discovered 8 firearms including an AK-47 assault rifle and a non-serialized AR-15 assault rifle, $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 in Carlotta, Agents located 48 pounds of processed marijuana packed for sales, 174 growing marijuana plants, two firearms, including a personally manufactured firearm 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 multiple charges including Possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales, Trafficking narcotics, Possession of marijuana for sale, Conspiracy to commit a crime, Commit a felony while armed, Selling a firearm without a license, Manufacturing an assault weapon, and Removing ID marks from a firearm.
On March 18th, 2025, Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, 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 Fields Landing and a business located on 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., hundreds of money transfer receipts were discovered by Agents and 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 Humboldt County Drug Task Force investigations, transferring money from Humboldt County to Mexico and Guatemala.
Fortuna Police K9 Cain alerted to $14,774.00 in US Currency, indicating the presence of narcotics.
Prior to serving the search warrant at the business on S Fortuna Blvd., the Humboldt County Drug Task Force reviewed financial records from this business for 2024. In 2024, this single business transferred over $11,000,000 to Mexico and Guatemala.
Investigation into this Drug Trafficking Organization remains ongoing.
