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SLO County deputies bust drug network with alleged ties to Mexico

February 27, 2020

By CCT STAFF

Following a nearly year-long investigation, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit seized more than $600,000 worth of drugs last week from a pair of SLO residents whom authorities claim were bringing narcotics directly from Mexico to the Central Coast.

The drugs seized had an estimated total street value of $617,000, including $270,000 worth of methamphetamine. Investigators also seized approximately $185,000 of white powder Fentanyl, $80,000 of black tar heroin, $63,000 of gray powder heroin and $19,000 of counterfeit M 30 pills made of Fentanyl and Acetaminophen.

Last March, authorities launched an investigation into a narcotic trafficking operation in SLO County. Over the course of the past 11 months, the SLO County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection and the CHP all participated in the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Feb. 19, at the request of the Special Operations Unit, the CHP conducted a traffic stop on Highway 101 near Santa Maria. CHP officers stopped a car being driven by Timothy Keith Moore, 41, of SLO.

During the traffic stop, investigators seized about one pound of methamphetamine, one kilogram of heroin, one kilogram of fentanyl and a bag of pills consisting of a combination of fentanyl and Tylenol, as well as a loaded handgun and more than $2,000 in cash.

Authorities arrested Moore for conspiracy to transport or sell narcotics and possession of a controlled substance for sale, as well as gun related charges.

The following day, sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on South Street in San Luis Obispo in order to serve a search warrant for a vehicle being driven by Jesse Daniel Talaugon, 38, also of SLO.

A search of Talaugon’s vehicle netted approximately 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, pre-packaged baggies containing suspected heroin and suspected Fentanyl, as well as $4,000 in cash. Deputies arrested Talaugon on charges of conspiracy to transport or sell narcotics, possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance for sale, as well as for gun related offenses.

Following Talaugon’s arrest, detectives served a warrant at a home in the 100 block of South Street that was associated with both suspects. The search of the home netted about 10 pounds of methamphetamine and three quarters of a kilogram of heroin, as well as scales and two handguns.

The SLO County Jail website currently lists Talaugon as being in custody with his bail set at $300,000. Moore is not listed as currently being in custody.

Sheriff’s officials say it is believed Moore and Talaugon had a network of people bringing narcotics directly from Mexico to SLO County. The sheriff’s office has not elaborated on the allegation.


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old-timer asked a question. Anyone wanting to blame foreign influences as the sole cause of our drug problems in this country definitely is a racist. Interesting that you are making a case for imbalanced moderation when only one of the comments questions the role of outside influence as the sole source of drugs in this country or our epidemic of users when the majority, at this point, were introduced to highly addictive drugs by our very own Big Pharma.


I fail to get why so many of the “commenters” on this site completely fail to engage in an actual discussion, preferring to simply bash the state or blame the most vulnerable of our residents for everything that a happens here. That is not just being asleep at the wheel, that is sleepwalking thru one’s whole life.


-8

I find it interesting that the same people always weigh in on how screwed up they think this state is, run by people who ignore the law, etc., even when the report details a large and very successful drug bust. It boggles my mind why anyone who is so dissatisfied with California continues to live here, given all the fine choices of “red” states where they could relocate. Oh, ya, but that would mean a significant lowering of their standard of living. Heh. They feel their best “contribution” to society here is to sound like the place sucks but never leave, because in truth, it is actually one of the better places on earth to live..


As for it being a “sanctuary”, that means that those who might otherwise have to hide for fear of deportation can feel safe reporting the actual perpetrators of crime. Perhaps you would feel “safer” if they did not? Just how do you think the perps above were caught?


And just for a bit of further information that some (sounds like all) of you might not be aware of, the larger part of the narcotics that are not actually manufactured here, that come into the country from other locations, come by CARGO CONTAINER, into the ports where thousands of them arrive daily. Pretty much impossible to monitor. Unless we stopped importing the lion’s share of our manufactured goods from China. Wow. What a concept. Jobs in America. But you all have been satisfied to buy cheap crap made by slaves for so long, you probably don’t know what it feels like to take pride in our ability to produce in our own country.


Perhaps if your jobs hadn’t been shipped away to slaves, if you only bought American whenever possible so you would have jobs yourselves, you wouldn’t have to be so racist and whine about “our borders” all the time. You wouldn’t have the time. You would be busy. Working.


-8

Not to worry, since Gov. Newsom refuses to do anything to secure CA’s border with Mexico, the replacement drugs are on their way for the weekend parties, if not here already.


18

Lol, Newsom is not responsible for the border with Mexico, that falls on El Trumpo’s desk.


But it is a free country, so make up stuff and blame it on whomever.


-12

Well, when Gov Newsom actively works to prevent another entity, in the case federal authorities, from doing their job and uses his position to break federal law yes he is responsible for the drugs brought across the border and for every citizen killed by an illegal. If any of us did this we would be in jail.


6

Thank you, detectives.


29

Nice going!


31