2 Busted Selling Cocaine, Xanax To Undercover Detective: NSIB

NAPA COUNTY, CA — A drug transaction Tuesday in Napa led to the arrest of two people accused of showing up to sell suspected cocaine and Xanax pills to an undercover detective with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau.

Detectives with the NSIB arrested Niko Cortez, 24, of Napa, and a St. Helena teenager whose name authorities did not release because he is underage.

Both the St. Helena Police Department and the NSIB, which investigates both drug trafficking and human trafficking in Napa County, looked into reports over the past few months that a juvenile who lives in the city of St. Helena was selling cocaine and Xanax pills, NSIB Lt. Rick Greenberg said Wednesday in a news release.

"Recently, NSIB was able to communicate with the Juvenile through a social media app and made multiple purchases of both cocaine and Xanax from the Juvenile," Greenberg said.

"Xanax is a medication (controlled substance) that is used to relieve chemical imbalances in the brain and to treat anxiety," Greenberg said. "Xanax (generic name: alprazolam) belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It works by blocking or slowing down the transmission of these chemicals in the brain."

It is alleged that Cortez had Xanax and cocaine packaged for sale Tuesday when he showed up with the teenager for the "meet" in Napa.

However, their customer turned out to be a detective working undercover for the NSIB.

Cortez and the minor were both arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies: possession of cocaine for sale, sales of cocaine, possession of Xanax for sale, selling Xanax, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Cortez was additionally charged on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is a misdemeanor. He has since been released from Napa County jail on $50,000 bail, jail records showed.

According to the NSIB, members of the community can submit confidential, anonymous tips about suspected drug and/or human trafficking in Napa County by calling 707-253-4458.