$1 Million-Plus In Drugs, Guns, And Cash Taken In Gresham Drug Trafficking Operation, Police Say

GRESHAM, OR — Following a three-month investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization working within the Portland metro region, Gresham Police, the DEA, and FBI conducted an early morning operation Tuesday that resulted in several arrests and the confiscation of guns, cash, and drugs.

Police officials say they arrested four men and took in 55 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of heroin, six handguns, two assault rifles, and nearly $230,000 in cash after serving multiple warrants around 5 a.m. Sept. 12.

The following men were arrested:

• Francisco Poncho Alvarez, 48, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine);
• Ulises Mayares Jr., 24, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), and manufacturing a controlled substance (Methamphetamine);
• Marbello Modesto Guzman, 25, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), and first degree child neglect; and
• Carlos Ortega-Estrella, 33, was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant unrelated to the drug trafficking case. He was delivered to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Charges of delivery of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), and manufacturing a controlled substance (Heroin) will be submitted to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

Alvarez, Mayares, and Guzman are all from Portland, and Ortega-Estrella is from Aloha, police said.

The confiscated drugs have an estimated street value of more than $1 million.

The three-month investigation reportedly revealed a network of drug traffickers stashing drugs at various locations between Gresham and Aloha, police said.

"It was a lot of hard work but it paid off," Gresham Detective Michael Webb said in a statement. "Getting that amount of drugs off the street is going to make a huge impact."

Photos Courtesy: Gresham Police Department