Eight East County residents were arrested on suspicion of selling illegal drugs through social media, following a month-long sting operation by sheriff’s deputies and district attorney investigators, according to authorities.
Arrest warrants were issued for four additional suspects who were wanted for the same crimes. The investigation was ongoing, according to Sgt. Cliff Rinder.
During the month of May, sheriff’s deputies from the Lakeside Substation, with assistance from the Santee, Alpine and Ramona patrol stations and the DA’s narcotics division, conducted an investigation that targeted people who were selling narcotics via social media, according to Rinder.
“All of subjects targeted would blatantly advertise their illegal activities and their willingness to sell narcotics via social media,” Rinder said in a statement released Friday night.
Search warrants were executed at four locations in Santee, Lakeside and Spring Valley. Seven men and one woman were arrested during the searches, but their identities were not released, Rinder said.
Anyone with information on the investigation was asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
— City News Service
