Three arrested, booked in Brawley PD fentanyl bust
BRAWLEY – During a traffic stop, a Brawley Police Department Police K-9 unit alerted to a vehicle indicating it contained narcotics, according to a BPD press release from BPD.
Upon the search it was determined that the driver had 11.839 ounces of fentanyl pills concealed in the vehicle, per the release. The find occurred on Tuesday, January 24, on a vehicle in the area of the 1800 block of Main Street, when the vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation.
While officers were conducting their investigation, a second vehicle was observed driving suspiciously in the area, per the release. A traffic stop was conducted on that vehicle, and a Brawley K-9 conducted a sniff of that vehicle. Brawley officers located an additional 15.07 ounces of Fentanyl pills concealed in the vehicle, per the release.
As a result Pablo Vasquez (43-year-old Arizona resident), Julio Bustos (48-year-old Arizona resident), and Xavier Matus (36-year-old Arizona resident) were arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for the illegal transportation and possession of narcotics. Their bail was set at $50,000, according to the press release.
The case will be submitted to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution, the release reads.
According to the release: “The Brawley Police Department reminds the public that Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50-times stronger than heroin and 100-times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S. Currently, Cartels market this drug to look like pills and candy to entice young adults and teenagers to use it.”
“If you have any questions about these narcotics targeting your children, don’t hesitate to contact the Brawley Police Department’s Investigations Unit,” per the release.