Three arrested in pot bust

Two Moorpark men and a Woodland Hills resident were arrested in Thousand Oaks at about 9 p.m. Wed., Oct. 19 in connection with drugs and weapon possession.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department narcotics unit, a monthlong investigation led to the arrest. The men are allegedly connected with a marijuana drug ring operating in Conejo Valley.

Arthur Gutierrez, 29, and Stephen Walsh, 27, of Moorpark along with Eric Aboud, 28, of Woodland Hills were booked into the Ventura County Jail each in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Just before the arrest, authorities observed the men loading five pounds of high-grade marijuana into a 2003 Ford Explorer in Woodland Hills. They drove the drugs to The Promenade shopping center on d in pot bust

Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards in Thousand Oaks, where they were apprehended.

Authorities also found a loaded .45-caliber handgun, prescription drugs and about $5,000 in the vehicle.

Search warrants yielded an additional five pounds of marijuana, a handgun, a shotgun and $70,000 in cash from a home in Los Angeles County.

Gutierrez was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession for sales, transportation of marijuana and having a loaded firearm in a car. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. Walsh was charged with conspiracy to distribute, possession for sales, transportation and sale of marijuana. Aboud was charged with being in possession of a gun while committing a felony in addition to other charges.

The investigation is ongoing, authorities said.