VISTA — Detectives with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 11 individuals suspected to be involved with dealing narcotics in the city of Vista on Tuesday, concluding an eight-month investigation involving multiple teams.
The 11 individuals were arrested during a final operation on Tuesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Of those arrested, seven are facing felony charges, and four are facing misdemeanor charges.
Vista sheriff’s detectives initiated an investigation into local street-level narcotics dealer activity in May 2024, with support from the Vista Sheriff’s Station Community Policing and Problem-Solving Unit (COPPS), the sheriff’s Gang Enforcement Team and Sheriff’s Narcotics and Gang Division.
During the investigation, law enforcement utilized undercover deputies to make controlled narcotics purchases, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“We want to thank our partners at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for their invaluable support, which led to arrest warrants being issued for seven street-level drug dealers. We also want to thank the City of Vista for their commitment to supporting the Sheriff’s Office’s efforts to keep the community safe,” the department said.
In 2023 and 2024, Vista deputies responded to around 200 overdose incidents in the city, leading to 60 total overdose criminal cases, the department said.
Fentanyl is a synthetic substance that is around 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, with very small amounts being potentially fatal. Illicit fentanyl can be mixed into other drugs, such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and has contributed to a rise in accidental overdoses in recent years.
According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, of the approximately 3,590 opioid-related overdose fatalities among county residents between 2016 and 2023, around 70% were attributed to fentanyl.
“The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is committed to preventing easy access to dangerous street drugs, as well as decreasing the amount of overdose incidents in our communities,” the department said.
