From left, Javier Lupercio, Jeffrey Mitchell, Felicia Amparo, Nathan John and John Feeney were arrested Tuesday, March 8, 2011, as the result of an investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force. Lake County Jail photos.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force on Tuesday night has resulted in five arrests and the seizure of controlled substances, marijuana, a stolen firearm and currency believed to be the suspected profits of drug trafficking.

On March 4, task force members obtained a search warrant for the person, home and vehicles of 48-year-old Javier Lupercio of Lakeport, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman.

At approximately 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, one of the sheriff’s K-9 teams stopped a vehicle belonging to Lupercio in Upper Lake for an unrelated traffic violation. Bauman said task force members were alerted to the traffic stop and responded to execute the warrant.

Lupercio and 29-year-old Jeffrey Mitchell of Lakeport were among several people detained, Bauman said.

After the sheriff’s narcotics detection K-9, “Gracie,” alerted to several areas of the vehicle, a search revealed suspected methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia inside the car, according to Bauman's report.

Lupercio also was found to be in possession of more than $900 in currency, which was seized for asset forfeiture. Bauman said Lupercio and Mitchell were both arrested.

Task force members went to Lupercio’s home on Mission Way in Lakeport to complete service of the search warrant. Bauman said when detectives entered Lupercio’s home, they detained 20-year-old Felicia Amparo and 24-year-old Nathan John, both of Lakeport.

Another vehicle belonging to Lupercio found at the home was searched and a full bottle of Hydrocodone was seized, Bauman said.

While searching inside the home, detectives located a duffel bag containing 16 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sales and a loaded .380 handgun that was reported stolen in a Lakeport burglary on Jan. 4. Bauman said detectives also located and seized two more bottles of Hydrocodone, digital scales, and other evidence of narcotics sales and trafficking.

John was arrested for violating parole and Amparo was arrested for a local bench warrant, Bauman said.

While detectives were in the process of searching Lupercio’s home, another man, 49-year-old John Feeney of Lakeport, arrived and was detained. Bauman said Feeney was subsequently arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Bauman said all five persons were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Lupercio was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of a stolen firearm and being under the influence of a controlled substance, Bauman said. Mitchell was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the

communities of Lake County and seize suspected profits from narcotics sales for asset forfeiture

proceedings whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the task force is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .