Location: Las Vegas

Incident Date: 3-23-22

Posted by: Media Relations

On March 22, 2022, Detectives with the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force (HIDTA), in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), conducted a multi-state drug seizure involving a drug trafficking operation out of Tulare County.

During their investigation, Detectives identified 35-year-old Martel Rivera of Exeter, as a supplier of high quantities of methamphetamines, which were being sold in Las Vegas. Early Tuesday morning, Las Vegas DEA officials, along with Tulare County HIDTA Detectives, arrested Martel, 37-year-old Moses Rivera of Woodlake, 26-year-old Josh Rivera of Woodlake and 29-year-old Tyler Rodgers of Exeter for possession of 50 pounds of Meth and 2000 Fentanyl Pills in Las Vegas. All four face federal charges of Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Detectives served additional search warrants in Exeter, Farmersville and Woodlake, where they found 17 pounds of Meth, four pounds of Heroin, 4.5 kilograms of Cocaine and 6.6 pounds of Fentanyl. They also seized 50 guns. 14 of those guns were stolen last year in Exeter. Exeter Police are currently investigating.

In addition, 33-year-old Adam Bennett of Woodlake was arrested on drug and weapon charges.

36-year-old Caleb Martinez, also if Woodlake, was arrested on numerous outstanding warrants.

Additional state and federal charges are pending for all suspects involved.

The Tulare County HIDTA Task Force is a Narcotics Task Force based in Tulare County and consists of Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Visalia Police Department, Porterville Police Department, Woodlake Police Department, Farmersville Police Department and a Special Agent from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218.