Following a four month investigation, Santa Barbara narcotics detectives arrested a woman on Wednesday, February 4, on charges of possession and transportation of controlled substances.
According to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department news release, the suspect, Maribel Gasga Delgado, was shown a search warrant when found in a vehicle outside her Eucalyptus Avenue residence while detectives performed a search of the premises. Detectives discovered nine ounces of cocaine in her residence, in addition to four ounces of cocaine and one ounce of crack cocaine in vehicles belonging to Delgado near the residence. The seized cocaine is valued at an estimated $42,000, and an additional $10,000 in cash was found in Delgado’s 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe.
Delgado’s three children were found in her residence along with the cocaine, some of which was not only child-accessible, but packaged in materials bearing Disney and other child-related images. Delgado has been subsequently charged with Felony Child endangerment in addition to illegal possession.
Delgado is being held on $200,000 bail. Her children have been released to Child Welfare Services.