Gwinnett Police announced Thursday 16 arrests and the seizure $2.5 million street value in illegal drugs in an ongoing investigation that was sparked by three heroin overdose deaths in October.
Detectives suspected the heroin involved in the deaths came from one dealer and launched an undercover investigation to identify him, said Cpl. Jake Smith of Gwinnett police.
“After identifying the dealer, detectives discovered they were dealing with a drug trafficking organization,” Smith said. “The scope of the investigation was expanded and new leads were discovered …and was largely resolved in February.”
Illicit drugs approximately netted included:
• 5,900 grams of heroin — or 210 ounces or six kilos.
• 530 grams of cocaine, or 19 ounces.
• 480 grams of marijuana, or 17 ounces.
• 230 grams of methamphetamine, or 8 ounces.
So far 16 people have been arrested. They are:
• Arturo Cruz-Reyes, 39
• Angel Matos-Bautista, 24
• Pedro Almazan-Diaz, 32
• Alejandro Palomares-Alvarado, 34
• Lee Nixon, 25
• Ranferi Vega Morales, 40
• Francisco Vargas-Rojo, 33
• Pedro Crisantos-Lemus, 33
• Daniel Perez-Arrellin, 49
• Carolina Ciru Jimenez, 37
• Carlos Gabriel Benites-Monseratte, 36
• Luis Colon-Ortiz, 51
• Darim Diaz-Jimenez, 22
• Ismael Lewis, 37
• Carlos Armando Ramirez, 30
• Ambrogio Guerrero-Perez, 39••
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