
Reaching deeply into the underbelly of Ventura County's illegal drug market, a coordinated sting by local law enforcement has brought the shadowy dealings of one social media drug dealer into the stark light of justice. According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau conducted a detailed probe into the activities of Edwin Perez, who is 22 and an Oxnard resident, suspected of peddling various narcotics through the veil of social media.
A search warrant obtained by detectives for Perez and his known residence led to a dramatic turn of events on the morning of December 19, 2024. Executing the warrant at the Cedar Street residence of Perez, detectives were met with a fleeting attempt at evasion as Perez reportedly tried to rid himself of a loaded, unserialized handgun by casting it onto the roof of his house, as per the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The seizure that followed included over three ounces of cocaine, more than 3000 alprazolam pills, over 7 pounds of dried marijuana, close to two pounds of various flavored concentrated cannabis, and a selection of flavored nicotine vape pens.
Upon his arrest, Perez faced charges that span both drug offenses and firearms violations. Particularly weighty was the charge of a convicted felon found in possession of a firearm. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office states that multiple counts against him include "possession of a controlled substance for sale" and "offer to sell a controlled substance". As captured in his booking photo—whose release was approved by Captain Ron Chips—Perez now awaits the legal reckoning for his alleged illicit entrepreneurship.
Ventura County authorities have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on such crimes and remind the public of incentives for aiding in these efforts. Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that contributes to the arrest and criminal complaint against the parties responsible for these types of crimes. The community is encouraged to come forward, with the assurance of anonymity. Interested parties can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).