SIU Investigation Leads to Cocaine and Firearms Seizure
September 6, 2026 – Sutter County Sheriff’s Office officials report that in July 2026, agents with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), with assistance from the Yuba City Police Department, served a search warrant related to an investigation into suspected cocaine sales.
The search warrant was served on Francisco Benitez, his vehicle, and his apartment in the 1200 block of B Street in Yuba City.
During the search, agents located and seized:
- Approximately 60 grams of cocaine
- A loaded FN Five-seveN handgun
- A loaded Springfield XD9 handgun
- Multiple additional handgun magazines
- Digital scale and suspected drug-packaging materials
- A cellphone believed to be associated with the investigation
Benitez was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine for sale, transportation/sales of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance while armed. He was subsequently booked into the Sutter County Jail. Benitez has since been released from custody.
The Special Investigations Unit is a joint partnership between the Yuba City Police Department and Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, focused on special investigations to include drug trafficking and related criminal activity impacting our communities.
Cases like this highlight the connection between illegal drug sales and firearms and the continued work of SIU agents to identify and disrupt this activity in the Yuba-Sutter community.
Source & photo: Sutter County Sheriff’s Office
