Reports of illegal dentist’s office leads to narcotics bust
Las Vegas police arrested a man in connection with narcotics found at multiple unlicensed medical businesses in the central valley.
According to police records, the drugs included tranquilizers and hormones: Tramadol, Viagra, Diazepam, Sostenon Testosterone and Ketoconazol — all with Spanish labels.
While investigating reports of an illegal dentist office operating in a business complex in the 5000 block of West Oakey Boulevard near Decatur Boulevard late Wednesday night, police found a large amount of dangerous narcotics inside several unlicensed businesses connected through a common hallway, including a dentist office, a primary physician office and a pain management clinic.
Erik Vargus-Rivera, 41, was arrested in connection with the felony furnishing of dangerous drugs without a prescription.
In his interview with detectives, Vargus-Rivera said he studied medicine for several years at a university in Mexico, where he is a licensed doctor. He didn’t know how to obtain his license in Nevada and could not afford it.
Vargus-Rivera said he gets drugs delivered to his office from Mexico. He told detectives he only gives out medications, and his patients are referred to the hospital for other treatments. He said he was the only one working in the cash-only clinic, and his patients were mostly family and friends.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident can contact the Metro’s violent crimes detectives at 702-828-5634. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl.
