California Men Arrested in Orange County With 50 Pounds of Meth

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men on Friday on drug trafficking charges — seizing 50 pounds of methamphetamine while doing so.

A release from the sheriff’s office on Tuesday said 22-year-old Alfredo Pizarro Ortiz and 41-year-old Rafael Angel Rodriguez are from Ontario, California. According to an office spokesperson, deputies made the arrest in a parking lot off Cardinal Drive in Hillsborough — which is near Interstate 85.

The message did not say how long the pair had been in North Carolina, but Orange County authorities worked in cooperation with the Durham County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies to make the arrest.

“Fighting drug crimes is a bit like playing Whac-A-Mole,” Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in the release. “You work to knock down supply and another source pops up. But still, you know it’s a good day when you arrest two people for trafficking and you remove 50 pounds of a dangerous drug from our community.

“I am grateful for the hard work and cooperation of everyone who assisted with these arrests,” he added.

Ortiz and Rodriguez each face charges of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver methamphetamine. The sheriff’s office said each are in custody at the Orange County Detention Center under $200,000 secured bonds.

Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

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