Fentanyl dealers try to flush supplies down toilet during Ontario raid
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ONTARIO — (Release from Ontario Police) On February 26, 2024, the High Desert Drug Task Force (HDDTF), Ontario Police Department, and the Oregon State Police served a search warrant on a suspected fentanyl dealer’s room at the Ontario Inn.
Four people were inside the room at the time of the search warrant service and three of them were arrested on outstanding warrants. Although they tried to flush their fentanyl supplies, dealer amounts of fentanyl were still seized along with thousands of dollars in suspected drug proceeds, a loaded handgun, digital scales, drug packaging, and other items of commercial level fentanyl dealing evidence.
Austin Adam Ash, age 34, of Ontario – arrested for several Oregon and Idaho warrants as well as felony possession, manufacture and attempted delivery of fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, and felon in possession of a restricted weapon.
Maricruz Santibanez, age 29, of Ontario – arrested for local Malheur County warrants.
Romelo Loa, age 19, of Ontario – arrested for local Malheur County warrants.
The High Desert Drug Task Force (HDDTF) is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. HDDTF is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is composed of members from the Ontario Police Department, Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police. HDDTF is supported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baker City Police Department, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Nyssa Police Department, Payette Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Idaho State Police, Malheur County District Attorney’s Office, and numerous other local and federal law enforcement partners.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the HDDTF.
