For the past several months, members of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) have been conducting a narcotics investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operating in the Portland Metro area.
On August 14, 2018, SIU conducted a traffic stop on Amador Patino and Prisciliano Vega-Alexandre. SIU searched the vehicle and found an ounce of heroin in the vehicle and $11,000 cash. The two suspects were arrested for Possession and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (PCS/DCS) of heroin.
SIU received consent to search an address on SE Division Street where they located approximately $97,000 cash, drug records and drug packaging material. They continued their investigation with a search warrant for an apartment on SE Powell Court. In the apartment, SIU located approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine, 7.6 pounds of heroin, drug records, scales and packaging material.
The next day, August 15, SIU learned of another address on SE 136th Avenue that Vega-Alexandre was living. With one more search warrant, SIU located another 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine and 7 ounces of heroin. In total, the street value of the seized drugs could be worth up to $1,000,000.
Patino and Vega-Alexandre were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of PCS/DCS of methamphetamine and heroin. Both have since bailed out of jail, at a combined bail total of $110,500. Patino failed to appear for a court appearance and has a warrant out for his arrest.
More information about SIU can be found at www.mcso.us/site/siu.php.
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