SAN DIEGO – Fifty-one people have been indicted after a six-month undercover operation into stolen vehicles and drugs, officials said today.

The Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) conducted the investigation that resulted in charges of auto theft, selling stolen vehicles, sale of controlled substances, carjacking, residential burglary and identity theft.

As part of Operation Hotel California, undercover officers purchased stolen cars, drugs and weapons at an undercover location in San Diego.

“San Diego County ranks fourth in the nation for auto theft, which is why the ongoing work by this task force is so important,” said Bonnie M. Dumanis, district attorney. “In this case, dozens of car thieves have been shut down thanks to extraordinary cooperation between RATT and NCIS.”

Operation Hotel California was launched in July, in part, as a response to community concern over increased auto theft. In the course of investigating the auto theft and narcotics crimes, law enforcement officers from RATT solved carjackings, illegal distribution of firearms, a residential burglary and identity theft cases.

For the first time, RATT joined forces with NCIS, which contributed funding and personnel to the operation.

“After reports that car thieves were targeting areas in and around military housing, NCIS felt it was important to get involved,” said Jeffrey Morrow, San Diego NCIS special agent-in-charge. “The operation was carried out near Navy housing in an effort to reduce crime in areas where Navy personnel and their families live and work.”

Evidence seized during the operation includes 46 stolen cars, seven guns and two ballistic vests. While auto thieves were the primary target, drugs purchased as part of the operation included cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, Oxycontin and heroin.

“Taking a pro-active approach in seeking out the professional auto thief and having aggressive prosecution has had a definite impact within our community” said CHP Capt. Lisa Wrobel, RATT commander.