Alleged Merced County drug smuggler arrested, state attorney general says
An alleged drug dealer in Merced County was arrested this week for trying to smuggle narcotics into California State Prison, Solano, state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday.
The arrest stems from a joint investigation launched in March 2025 by the California Department of Justice and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, a news release from Bonta’s office said.
Officers from the Department of Justice, along with the CDCR, executed a search warrant at a Madera residence on Monday.
Investigators arrested the suspected narcotic smuggler and seized 775 grams of heroin, 453 grams of concentrated cannabis and $2,000 in cash, the news release said. The suspect was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail.
“CDCR is committed to a comprehensive, multilayered strategy to stop contraband from entering our institutions,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. “Through strong collaboration with law enforcement partners, we are enhancing physical security, targeting gang‑driven distribution networks, and closing the avenues used to smuggle illegal drugs into prisons.”
The Merced County District Attorney’s Office will be prosecuting the case. The news release did not reveal the name of the suspect or the exact charges the person will face.
The DOJ special agents that contributed to the investigation are a part of the Merced Area Gang & Narcotic Enforcement Team.
