Two brothers from Ventura County have been arrested for allegedly running a drug operation that targeted local youth. This scheme has raised serious concerns after at least one juvenile ended up in the hospital due to consuming psychedelic mushrooms linked to the brothers.
Enrique and Erick Benitez, aged 18 and 26, were taken into custody this week. Authorities say they used social media and messaging apps to deliver drugs, including psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and vape products containing both marijuana and nicotine. Detectives found that they had sold these substances to school-age children across the county.
The situation escalated when a hospitalized juvenile informed detectives that they had bought the magic mushrooms from the Benitez brothers. Following this lead, detectives executed a search warrant at a property associated with the brothers. During the search, they discovered around 20 grams of psilocybin, 88 marijuana vape pens, 10 nicotine vape pens, and a significant amount of loose marijuana. They also seized over $2,000 in cash and a loaded ghost gun, which is a firearm without a serial number.
The brothers face multiple charges, including selling controlled substances to minors, possession of a controlled substance while armed, and child endangerment. Each brother’s bail has been set at $250,000.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about drug accessibility among young people and the dangers associated with psychedelic substances. Local law enforcement is urging parents to talk to their children about the risks of drug use and to monitor their online activities.