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SLO County deputies bust drug trafficking operation, arrest eight suspects

October 21, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office arrested eight people following an extensive investigation into a drug trafficking operation with ties to Mexico.

In May, deputies served several search warrants relating to a three-month investigation into the sales and distribution of illegal narcotics within San Luis Obispo County. In total, detectives seized approximately 6.6 pounds of cocaine, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, 11 firearms and approximately $80,000.

Based out of northern San Luis Obispo County, the drug trafficking operation had ties to southern California and Mexico.

Deputies arrested eight people related to the investigation:

Jorge Castaneda, 30, of Paso Robles is charged with conspiracy, sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic, transport for sale-controlled substance from non-contiguous county to another.

Carlos Rios, 30, of Paso Robles is charged with conspiracy, sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of cocaine, possess controlled substance for sale, enhancement over 1 kilogram methamphetamine, possess controlled substance for sale.

Bianca Sudias Navarro, 30, of Paso Robles is charged with conspiracy, sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic, transport for sale-controlled substance from non-contiguous county to another, possess controlled substance for sale.

Alexis Nusico Isidro, 29, of Paso Robles is charged with conspiracy,sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic, commit felony while released on bail.

Anthony Traverso, 37, of Templeton is charged with conspiracy, possess controlled substance for sale.

Argenis Zepeda Grande, 29, of Paso Robles is charged with conspiracy, sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic.

Jose Castaneda, 31, of Paso Robles is charged with conspiracy, sales enhancement over one kilogram of cocaine, possess controlled substance for sale.

Zachary Hoyt, 32, of San Miguel is charged with conspiracy, sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic cocaine.

“The sheriff’s office would like to thank the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department, and the Atascadero Police Department for their assistance with this investigation,” according to a press release.

 


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The tentacles of South American and Central American drug cartels are firmly entwined in our (USA) American Society. All persons involved in any part of the illicit drug pipeline within the United States, especially drug dealers, should be permanently removed from society. It matters not how they are removed just that they ARE removed.


Finally, we have a presidential administration that recognizes the existential threat posed to America and her citizens by the poisons smuggled into the homeland from China and across the southern border. Vaporizing drug toting fast boats and low-profile semi-submersible cocaine “submarines” is sending a clear message that the current administration is serious with the “Find Out” part of “F’ing Around” when it comes to drugs being smuggled from Venezuela, Columbia, and Mexico.


2

Except for the fact that Trump is a pathological liar and has never proven these boats carried drugs. Disregard the fact he is killing people in international waters without one shred of evidence.

Release the files.


-7

Great job county sheriffs! Let’s hope they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and then deported.


40

Some of Biden’s people. It would be invaluable to know if they were registered voters.


1

These people are not “of paso robles” hahaha


11

Darn near paradise right?


-9

Seven of the eight have something in common.


38

You should spell it out for the class


0

Selling drugs to Americans?


19

They can’t believe the U.S. has a president that keeps his promise?


28

Which promise is that actually? If it’s keeping drugs from entering the country then that’s another lie apparently.


-41

Approximately forty occupants of low profile fast-boats and semi-submersible cocaine submarines heading North from Venezuela and Columbia would beg to differ with you. They can’t, though, because they have been blown to smithereens and are now part of the food chain in the Caribbean or Pacific Ocean.


0

Where is the proof that these boats carried drugs? What proof is there that they were going to the US?

Because Trump said so?

You believe a pathological liar that offers no proof? How gullible are you?


-1

Do a search of their names on facebook and see all of their “friends” and famlies.


18

Stupid “Zach.” All caught up with the ILLEGAL INVADER homies.


Time and time again, they prove this true, dopers are dopes!


17

Article says they were all from north county. Do we need to build a wall at the top of the grade to keep the lowlifes out? Guess we need to ramp up American made cocaine manufacturing to keep up with American needs.


-27

Just look south to Santa Maria.


2

Selfish Americans hell-bent on making pharmaceutical recreation a major focus of their lives need to embrace a little bit of responsibility and morality by stop acting as customers to the Mexican and South American drug cartels. The American customers are every bit as evil and destructive as the savage criminal cartels they buy their drugs from. Just because our fellow American drug consumers have several layers of separation between themselves and the brutally savage violence of the cartels doesn’t mean that they don’t also have blood on their hands. Perhaps indirectly, but they still have the blood of both innocents and criminals on their hands.


0

Liberals/ Democrats , needed that medicine .


0