Two charged with dealing heroin

Two alleged heroin drug dealers have pleaded not guilty after arrests following a three-month investigation by the East Ventura County Narcotics Street Team and the Simi Valley Police Department's Narcotic Unit.

Van Nuys residents Wilfredo Chavarria, 24, and Osmar Robles, 27, were arrested for allegedly selling heroin to various buyers in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley on Sept. 16. They were charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and felony transporting to sell a controlled substance.

About 50 grams of heroin and $2,500 was seized during the investigation, authorities said.

Robles and Chavarria were booked into the Main Jail in Ventura. A bail of $50,000 was set for Robles. A $250,000 bail was set for Chavarria.

"We are still investigating and more arrests are expected," said Sgt. Bob Thomas of the Thousand Oaks Police Department.

Both men were arrested in Van Nuys, Thomas said— Chavarria outside his apartment and Robles at a shopping center.

The 50 grams of heroin was packaged in small quantities, with about 1 gram in each bag.

Each of the bags sells for about $100, bringing the total 50 grams to about $5,000 in street value, Thomas said.

"I don't know if heroin is making a comeback in Thousand Oaks—I think its use has probably been consistent over the years with young adults between the ages of 18 to 25," he said.

It's a drug people gradually work up to—a progression starting with marijuana and then methamphetamines, cocaine or prescription medication before heroin use, Thomas said.

"It's pretty hard-core."

He said heroin is extremely addicting, with some people getting hooked on it after just one try.

It's mostly used intravenously, Thomas said, and using a needle and syringe isn't something most people want to do.

The injections make the user vulnerable to serious diseases, such as hepatitis and AIDS.

Still, there are those in Thousand Oaks who risk the habit that costs them about $50 to $100 a day, the police sergeant said.

Sometimes heroin addicts resort to prostitution, but Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley don't have much of that going on, he said.

"When they crave it and don't have money, people resort to property crimes," Thomas said.