Southern California motel shut down over drugs, trafficking; owners arrested

An Orange County motel that police said is known for illegal activity was shut down after 10 people, including the motel’s owners, were arrested this week.

A search warrant was served Tuesday at the Sunshine Village Motel in the 1400 block of East First Street in Santa Ana as part of a multi-agency operation, which included the Santa Ana Police Department and Code Enforcement personnel.

The motel has become an ongoing nuisance to the city and is believed to be a haven for drug use and human trafficking, a Santa Ana Police Department spokesperson told KTLA.

The spokesperson confirmed that the motel’s owners, described as a couple in their 60s, were among 10 people arrested during the operation, which also left the building red-tagged due to multiple violations.

The unidentified owners were allegedly facilitating the crimes by allocating rooms for criminal activity, the spokesperson said.

“The motel has been boarded up and inoperable,” the police department stated in a Facebook post, which included video of the bust.

Some of the people staying at the motel who were not involved in the criminal activity were provided housing resources, the spokesperson said. Animal Control officials also assisted in the effort by providing shelter for several animals found at the motel.

“This joint effort helps keep our neighborhoods safe and improves quality of life for nearby residents and businesses,” police said.