10 Pounds of Heroin, 14 Pounds of Meth Seized in Huge Drug Bust

Salem Police Conclude Major Drug Investigation

Photo: Salem Police Dept.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Salem Police Department's Street Crimes Unit, assisted by the Marion County District Attorney's Office, the Salem DEA office, the Western Interagency Narcotics team (WIN), and the Portland Police Bureau, concluded a nearly two month long drug investigation Tuesday evening with the arrest of seven individuals and the service of seven search warrants.

The operation began just before 6:30 PM with the nearly simultaneous stop of three separate vehicles in the vicinity of Lancaster and Beverly NE.

Following the vehicle stops, search warrants were served in the 3700 block of Beverly Av NE, the 400 block of Fountain Valley Way NE, the 900 block of Shores St NE, the 5100 block of Wittenberg Ln NE, the 1500 block of Hawthorne Av NE, and the 2500 block of Ptarmigan St NW.

Meanwhile, WIN served a search warrant in the 9600 block of SW 160th in Beaverton, and the Portland Police Bureau served a search warrant in the 8200 block of NE Hancock.

The Salem Police Department seized over ten pounds of heroin, over 14 pounds of methamphetamine, and in excess of two pounds of cocaine. In addition, over $466,000 and six vehicles were seized.

Arrested in Salem on a long list of drug related charges were the following individuals:

• Victor Palafox, 23 years of age from Salem
• Vanessa Gonzalez, 22 years of age from Salem
• Guillermo Palafox-Santos, 42 years of age from Salem
• Elsa Garcia-Barrera, 47 years of age from Salem
• Christopher McNaught, 37 years of age from Salem
• Crystal Bingham, 36 years of age from Salem
• David Bacon, 52 years of age from Beaverton

They are all being held in the Marion County Correctional Facility.