Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jun 2006
Source: Indianapolis Star (IN)
Copyright: 2006 Indianapolis Newspapers Inc.
Contact: http://www.indystar.com/help/contact/letters.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/210
Website: http://www.starnews.com/
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

CHICAGO GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED IN DRUG CRACKDOWN

47 members charged, 30 arrested; officials say drug ring sold deadly
fentanyl-laced heroin

CHICAGO -- Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged more than three 
dozen members of a Chicago street gang with running a drug ring that 
sold crack cocaine, marijuana, heroin and the potentially lethal 
prescription painkiller fentanyl.

Fentanyl-laced heroin has been blamed for more than 200 
overdose-related deaths across the eastern half of the country in 
recent months, at least 70 of them in the Chicago area. But while 
much of the fentanyl seized in the investigation was packaged for 
individual use, none of the seized heroin was found to be mixed with 
fentanyl, authorities said. The legally produced painkiller is 80 
times stronger than morphine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Shapiro 
alleged that the gang marketed its drugs to take advantage of the 
deadly heroin's notoriety, selling products with names such as "Max 
Pain," "Lethal Injection," "Fear Factor," "Drop Dead" and "Final 
Call." He said none of the defendants had been charged in any of the 
fentanyl deaths. In a series of raids Wednesday, agents seized more 
than 100 kilograms of heroin, five firearms, four vehicles and an 
undetermined amount of cash, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration. More than 400 federal and local law enforcement 
officers were involved. The criminal complaint Wednesday charges 47 
members and associates of the Mickey Cobras gang. By early afternoon, 
30 people had been arrested, including a Chicago police officer.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said many of the arrests took place 
at the Dearborn Homes public housing complex, a Mickey Cobras 
stronghold a few miles south of the Loop, but that the drug ring 
extended to nearby states.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman