Multiple police departments and sheriff departments worked together to deconstruct the drug ring.

PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — 17 people have been booked and charged in a major drug trafficking shutdown carried out by the Placer County Special Operations Unit on March 12, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.

Placer County operatives and Investigators investigated a large trafficking drug scheme that was transporting drugs from its home base in Sacramento to Placer County. The organization was found to be made up of members with connections to Sacramento drug trafficking and Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

Multiple agencies conducted a search and arrest of over 25 locations in Sacramento County, Sacramento City, Elk Grove and Placer County. 17 individuals were taken into custody and charged, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Department. The operation in total took 8 months to execute.

The Individuals have been identified as:

• Alejandro Herrera, 41

• Theodore St. Andre, 41

• Don Wedgeworth, 82, Auburn

The suspects booked currently reside in Placer County Jail and have been charged for the ownership of 65 pounds of meth, 7.25 Kilos of Cocaine, half a pound of Molly, over $100k in cash, 26 firearms and 1 DMT lab.

Placer County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the following agencies as participants in the investigation: 

• Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (SIU/GSU & SWAT)

• Sacramento Police Department (SIU & SWAT)

• Citrus Heights Police Department (SIU)

• Folsom Police Department (SIU)

• West Sacramento Police Department

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• California Department of Justice

• Roseville Police Department

• Placer County District Attorney’s Office

• Rocklin Police Department

• Auburn Police Department

• Placer Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATTF)

• Western Nevada Enforcement Team (WENET – El Dorado County)

• Sacramento Auto Theft Task Force (SACCATS – CHP)

• Trident Unit (Placer County DA’s Office)

• Placer Special Investigations Unit (PLEA)

• Woodland Police Department

According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Department, this is the first investigation of this scale they have conducted in recent years. 

“We applaud the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations detectives for their expertise, persistence, and dedication, which made this operation possible,” said the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

Watch more from ABC10: Suspect, two deputies and PG&E worker shot during incident in Camino

ABC10: Watch, Download, Read