Police: Cotati man suspected of selling drugs to minors used social media, emojis and tempting packaging

Santa Rosa police have arrested a Cotati man on suspicion of drug trafficking. The man specifically targeted teens using social media, emoji codes and fun packaging, officials said.

In April, the Santa Rosa Police Department’s property crimes investigation team received information suggesting that 32-year-old Alvaro Hurtado-Diaz was targeting minors as potential customers for drug trafficking and sales, said Patricia Seffens, a spokeswoman for the Santa Rosa Police Department.

He used social media apps commonly used by teenagers, such as Instagram, Snapchat and Telegram (an encrypted messaging platform), to sell substances such as edible marijuana, THC vaporizers, psilocybin mushrooms and cocaine, the department said in a news release. He also accepted payments through social media apps such as CashApp and Venmo.

Hurtado-Diaz also used emojis for advertising on social media and in communicating with customers, Seffens said.

The use of “emoji codes” is an increasingly popular method among drug dealers, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, and something parents should be aware of. Common codes include using a plug emoji for a “plug,” which is slang for a drug dealer, or snowflake emojis for cocaine.

As part of its “One Pill Can Kill” campaign, the DEA has released an “Emoji Drug Code,” a guide to understanding the use of emojis to communicate about illegal activities.

Police also suspect that Hurtado-Diaz packaged drugs in an enticing manner to attract juveniles, and while some of the items appear to have come from a reliable source or controlled manufacturing facility, evidence found in a storage unit associated with Hurtado-Diaz suggests he may have packaged some of the items himself.

“Therefore, there is no way to know the true source of these products or determine whether they are safe for consumption,” the press release states. “Unfortunately, controlled substances are often packaged in a way that is enticing or tempting to young people and may even be misleading about the contents.”

On May 8, detectives observed Hurtado-Diaz picking up a person at a gate behind a high school in Sonoma County. Based on the location and time of day, detectives suspected the person may have been an underage student.

Seffens said Santa Rosa police are not providing the exact address of the high school or any information on the minor involved because “we do not want to inadvertently identify innocent juveniles, especially before we get a chance to interview possible victims.”

Concerned that Hurtado-Diaz was likely to administer controlled substances to the minor, detectives stopped Hurtado-Diaz and were able to arrest him without incident.

Investigators subsequently served search warrants for Hurtado-Diaz’s vehicles and two residences. Police said they found marijuana, THC vaporizers and cocaine packaged for sale in his vehicle. Numerous marijuana products, edibles, THC vaporizers, cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms were also found in his residence in the 6900 block of Highway 116 in Cotati.

They also found several firearms, including an AR-15 assault weapon and a stolen handgun, according to a department press release.

A search of a residence in the 300 block of Duncan Drive in Windsor did not locate any evidence or contraband relevant to the investigation.

Hurtado-Diaz was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on eight felony charges, including possession of a stolen firearm, sale of controlled substances to a minor, endangering a child and possession of narcotics for sale.

Investigators are continuing to pursue the case, including attempting to identify and contact other juveniles who may have been targeted by Hurtado-Diaz for drug sales, the press release said.

“The Santa Rosa Police Department urges parents to be extremely vigilant in monitoring social media activity and to be on the lookout for signs that their children may be communicating with and associating with drug dealers,” they added.

Reach staff writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8531 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @alana_minkler.