Did you think that the colorful boxes your child brought back from school were filled with snacks or cartoon toys? In reality, there is a high possibility that they contain drugs. Southern California police discovered that these boxes are being sold near schools.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office stated on Monday (14th) that a parent suspected their child had come into contact with drugs, leading to abnormal behavior, and subsequently reported it to the authorities.
Detectives immediately launched an investigation and started tracing the source of the drugs upon receiving reports of drugs being distributed to local youth. Eventually, the police pinpointed 18-year-old Dylan Ruiz, a resident of Oxnard in the county, as the supplier to local middle and high school students of “illegal drugs, marijuana products, and nicotine products”.
Authorities believe that Ruiz was distributing drugs to students in different middle and high schools in the area. Investigators also found that these drugs were packaged in colorful boxes or containers with cartoon characters, making them particularly attractive to children.
Last Thursday (10th), the police intercepted and apprehended Ruiz while he was driving, finding a loaded gun in the car. A subsequent search of his residence led to the discovery of a large quantity of drugs and other evidence related to drug trafficking.
According to police records, Ruiz has been sent to Ventura County Jail with bail set at $50,000.
“This case investigation began with a parent’s alertness and timely report – when you notice something wrong with your child, notify the authorities as soon as possible,” the county sheriff’s office reminded all guardians. “If you observe abnormal changes in your child, or suspect someone around you is involved in drug-related activities, do not ignore it. Your report may prevent the next tragedy from happening.” ◇