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Fresno County Detectives Arrest Sinaloa Man with $1 Million in Narcotics
ANTHONY SITE PHOTO
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 1 year ago on
July 25, 2024

Narcotics detectives in Fresno County have arrested Jose Araujo-Valenzuela of Sinaloa, Mexico, after a traffic stop led to the discovery of $1 million worth of fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine. (Fresno County SO)

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Narcotics detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested Jose Araujo-Valenzuela, 21, of Sinaloa, Mexico, on two felony charges of possession of narcotics for sale and one felony charge for using a false compartment.

 Jose Araujo-Valenzuela, 21, of Sinaloa, Mexico, on two felony charges of possession of narcotics for sale and one felony charge for using a false compartment. (Fresno County SO)

Araujo-Valenzuela is being held in the Fresno County Jail with bail set at $230,000.

On Tuesday, detectives conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling along Interstate 5 in Fresno County. K-9 “Gere” detected the scent of drugs, leading to a vehicle search.

Detectives discovered two dozen packages containing 240,000 fentanyl-laced pills, commonly known as M-30s, and one kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of cocaine. The total street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $1 million.

This quantity of narcotics is indicative of drug trafficking organization activity, officials said. The case is being submitted for potential federal prosecution.

Got a Tip?

Anyone with information on illegal drug activity is encouraged to report it anonymously by calling the Narcotics Hotline at 1-800-660-1086 or emailing drugtip@fresnosheriff.org.

Additionally, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or online at www.valleycrimestoppers.org. Callers will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.

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