7 Newport Beach Students Arrested on Drug Charges

Newport Beach police arrested seven high school students from two campuses Thursday on suspicion of selling drugs. The arrests followed an investigation in response to complaints of drug sales taking place at the schools.

Police said Friday they also seized undetermined amounts of the hallucinogenic drug LSD as well as marijuana.

The arrests culminated a six-week undercover operation at Corona del Mar High School followed by another six-week operation at Newport Harbor High School, said Sgt. Tim Riley of the narcotics detail. He said a woman police officer had posed as a student during the investigation.

One adult and two juveniles from Corona del Mar High School and four juveniles from Newport Harbor High School were arrested at their homes after warrants were issued by the Juvenile Court and the Orange County Harbor Municipal Court, Riley said. James Scott Seal, 18, was released Friday after posting $2,500 bail. The names of the juveniles were not released.

The Newport Beach arrests came one day after Huntington Beach police, who used a woman police cadet working undercover, arrested 19 juveniles and four adults on suspicion of selling drugs at Edison High School. Riley said the arrests of the seven students were not related to the Huntington Beach drug-busting operation.

Riley added that police started the investigation after receiving reports of illegal drug deals on the campuses.

“This is something we initiated after we received various information about the problem, and we informed the district and they went along with it,” Riley said.