Friday May 2

Police seize $160K of heroin in bust

By Michael Manekin / Bay Area News Group

The San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force on Tuesday seized three-and-a-half pounds of heroin in the parking lot of a South San Francisco shopping center and arrested three people on suspicion of multiple drug-related felony charges, authorities said Thursday.

South San Francisco residents Arcelia Padilla, 32, and Yoann Rosas, 18, were arrested alongside Heber Ruiz, 25, of Hayward. The drug bust, which occurred at the Chestnut Shopping Center about 5 p.m. Tuesday, was the culmination of a three-month investigation, said Cmdr. Mark Wyss of the narcotics task force.

Padilla, a housekeeper, was found in possession of the lion's share of the drug heroin with an estimated street value of up to $160,000, police said. Rosas, a student, was found with up to $4,200 worth of heroin, and Ruiz, who is unemployed, was discovered with up to $3,600 worth of cocaine, according to police.

The three suspects were booked into the county jail. Officers conducting a search of Padilla's and Rosas' home in South San Francisco turned up four children, ages 4 to 11. The children were taken into custody by the county's Children and Family Services.