Fortuna Woman Arrested For Trafficking Pounds of Heroin

MIRANDA, Ca. (KIEM) – A woman is arrested and pounds of narcotics are off the streets thanks to the Humboldt County Drug Task Force.

Drug Task Force Agents and Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 2 traffic stops in Southern Humboldt last night.

40-year-old Angelica Maria Vega of Fortuna was reportedly on her way to meet with members of a known drug trafficking organization that has been under investigation for several months.

Authorities say agents witnessed Vega meet with the known traffickers near the Benbow Inn.

During a traffic stop near the Miranda exit, agents located roughly two and a half founds of heroin inside her vehicle. Vega is charged with transportation of controlled substances.

H.C.S.O.  Deputies then contacted the known traffickers in Benbow State Park. A k-9 unit found six pounds of heroin in one of their vehicles, along with $4,000 dollars.

The suspects Vega met with have been identified as 21-year-old Guillermo Padilla of Coachella, 24-year-old Kaina Galdamez of Indio, and 37-year-old Edgar Melgar-Zamora from Sinaloa, Mexico.

All three admitted to traveling from Southern California to deliver narcotics.

Due to Covid-19 concerns, the three were released and the case will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.