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Drug bust nets 40 pounds of pot, 5 arrests

Task force officers said the  marijuana confiscated had a street value of $100,000.

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 7:48 PM Friday, March 19, 2010

HAMILTON — Five men were arrested Thursday, March 18, after authorities broke up a large marijuana operation.

Members of the Butler County Undercover Regional Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at 1110 Harmon Ave., arresting the five and seizing 40 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $100,000, a scale and a small amount of cash, according to Lt. Mike Craft of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Three men were found inside the home; two were picked up a short time later, Craft said. The arrests were part of a monthlong investigation.

Deputies arrested Adolfo Leyva-Bajeca, 24, Raul Ortiz-Ayala, 35, Ramon Ortiz-Bajeca, 49, Jorge Ortiz-Bageca, 52, and Christian Quintana, 28. Each was charged with second-degree felony drug trafficking and third-degree drug possession.

All five men remained in the Butler County Jail as Friday, March 19.

Leyva-Bajeca and Ortiz-Ayala are suspected illegal immigrants, Craft said.

Quintana and Ortiz-Bajeca have prior criminal records, according to the sheriff’s office. Quintana was arrested on various traffic offenses in 2006 and 2007; Ortiz-Bajeca was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in 2002, domestic violence in 2005 and domestic violence and assault in 2006.

Craft said the drugs are believed to a part of a larger ring operating out of the western United States.

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