Suspected narcotics trafficker arrested today was observed by agents near Zane Middle school

On March 5th, 2020, at approximately 2:40 p.m., special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of a narcotic detection K9 with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 3300 block of Broadway, Eureka.

During their multi-week investigation, agents identified Jesus Andres Pastrana (age 23 from Sonora, Mexico,) as a suspected narcotics trafficker distributing heroin and methamphetamine throughout Humboldt County.  Agents believe Pastrana is associated with a large drug trafficking organization based out of Central California and Mexico.  Prior to the traffic stop, and during previous surveillance operations, agents observed Pastrana visiting a wooded area near Zane Middle School.  Just prior to the traffic stop, the narcotics detection K9 was deployed to this area and alerted to the presence of narcotics near a walking trail.  An HCDTF agent checked this area and located a large stash of heroin within close proximity of school property.  The attached photograph shows the general area in which this stash was located.     

Upon contact at the traffic stop, Pastrana was detained without incident.  Agents searched Pastrana’s vehicle pursuant to a search warrant and located nearly 1.5 pounds of heroin packaged for sale.  The packaging of this heroin was the same as the heroin found near the walking trail.  In total, agents seized nearly 5 pounds of heroin and 2 pounds of methamphetamine during this investigation.   

Pastrana was subsequently placed under arrest for possession and transportation of controlled substances for sales and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.  Agents sought a bail enhancement from the Humboldt Superior Court in accordance with PC 1275.  The request was granted and Pastrana is ineligible for bail at this time.   

HCDTF is asking the District Attorney’s Office to consider filing charges pursuant to H&S 11353.6 against Pastrana as his narcotics operation was within 1000 yards of a school zone.