Carpinteria, Calif.  –  A traffic stop conducted by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies in the early morning hours of March 15, 2026, resulted in the arrest of a Lompoc woman and the seizure of more than two pounds of fentanyl.

At approximately 1:35 a.m., deputies from the Carpinteria substation observed a vehicle traveling northbound on Highway 101 approaching the Summerland off-ramp that was failing to maintain its lane. Deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop and contacted the driver, who was identified as Erica Racheal Ruvalcaba, a resident of Lompoc.

During the stop, deputies observed signs that Ruvalcaba was driving under the influence of drugs. Deputies searched Ruvalcaba’s vehicle and located approximately 2 pounds and 6 ounces of fentanyl hidden inside a subwoofer speaker, along with approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine and used methamphetamine pipes.

Ruvalcaba was arrested and booked at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail. She is currently being held on enhanced bail of $500,000 for the following charges:

• Driving under the influence of drugs (misdemeanor)
• Possession of fentanyl for sale (felony)
• Transportation or sale of a controlled substance (felony)
• Possession of methamphetamine (misdemeanor)
• Possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)

The seizure of fentanyl is significant as law enforcement and community partners continue working to reduce the devastating impact of opioids in Santa Barbara County. Read more about that here.