DEA raid busts fentanyl manufacturer in Presidio Place

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Mission Valley residents concerned after seeing a red warning sign on their neighbor’s door, reading “fentanyl activity used for the illegal manufacturing or storage of fentanyl,” leading them to believe a drug dealer was busted in the Presidio Place complex.

The sign is dated for last Thursday, April 18th. When 10News went to Presidio Place, the red signs were removed, but the plywood remained over the door. Behind the plywood, you could hear the sound of fans.

Neighbor Rosa Gallego lived in the complex for 20 years and said it’s very quiet, most of the residents are older, some retired. She said she splits her time between San Diego and in Mexicali. Last week she said she saw a bunch of law enforcement officers, “with a pistola (pistol) and a rifle, and I said, ‘What neighbors are living here?”

She said she didn’t know about the bust and said she no longer feels safe in the complex, “if there’s other neighbors that are doing drugs or whatever, it’s not nice to be here.”

San Diego Police said three people were detained Thursday. Police were called out to Presidio Place at 5:18 p.m. that day.

Across the street neighbors who almost moved into Presidio Place said they’re concerned they never heard about the bust, “it makes me very nervous,” Kealia Gedayloo-Sudden said. “I mean there’s a public park about 50 feet that way and we all take kids over there and when my friends come over we take their kids there.”

“I mean I understand why they would try to keep it a secret, not to create a mass craze, you know, but at the same time we should be kind of aware at least we could be aware of what to look for to help the police do their jobs maybe?” She said shrugging. She noted how secure the complex is, with gates surrounding all entrances, and cameras dotting the grounds.

She said it’s surprising how easy it is to make high end drugs without causing anything noticeable, “it’s not like some bad smell, or some horrible weird grungy containers outside the door. It could be hidden in a bathroom and never know it’s happening.”

10News reached out to the DEA for further information. 10News also called the Presido Place Condo Association and have not heard back.