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Media Advisory [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2006
Contact: Casey McEnry
Number: 408-422-6185

3 Arrested, 10 Pounds of PCP
Seized in Bakersfield Operation
Atwater, Calif. Resident Was Supplying Bakersfield and San Jose Areas

OCT 30 -- (SAN FRANCISCO) – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s San Francisco Division and Bakersfield Police Department announced the arrest of three individuals on Sunday, October 29 th and the seizure of 10.2 pounds of PCP as part of a two-year investigation in the Bakersfield and San Jose communities.

According to DEA Resident Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Division, Stephen Peterson, the PCP seizure is one of the largest he can remember in the area in recent memory.

“We haven’t seen a seizure of this magnitude in the Central Valley area for several years,” said Peterson. “Although we can not rule out that this might be an isolated incident, we are extremely concerned that PCP use may be creeping back into our communities like a virus that just won’t go away.”

Lieutenant Jess Molinar of the Bakersfield Police Department echoed Peterson’s concerns.

“This is a significant seizure, so in one respect it is good to get these drugs off the streets and out of the hands of our local residents. However, this is not the end of our investigation and we will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure we keep these drugs out of our communities,” said Molinar.

Raymond Saenz, 41, was arrested during a traffic stop in Bakersfield and a subsequent search of his property at 1898 Chelsea Court in Atwater, Calif. led to the seizure of the PCP. Also arrested as part of the investigation were Saenz’s wife, Brandie, 33 and Fernando Manjarrez, 43, of Hilmar, Calif.

All three were charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fresno with manufacturing and distributing PCP. If convicted, each defendant could spend anywhere from 10 years to life in prison.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office and the Atwater Police Department also assisted with the investigation.

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