Pubdate: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/314 Author: Kelly Rayburn, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) AUTHORITIES BUST OAKLAND DRUG RING 30 Arrested in Raids Throughout Region OAKLAND -- Oakland police and federal authorities announced Wednesday they had dismantled a major drug ring that they said brought heroin from Mexico into California's Central Valley and ultimately Oakland and other Bay Area locations. The announcement came after law enforcement personnel conducted dozens of raids beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday in Oakland and throughout the region. Police Chief Wayne Tucker said he believed the streets of Oakland will be safer after the bust, because of the violence often associated with drug dealing. "We think this will reduce the number of shootings and ultimately the number of killings that occur in Oakland," Tucker said. The events Wednesday culminated a two-year effort to gather information on and ultimately tackle the suspected drug ring. Some 40 people have been arrested in connection with the alleged drug activities, 30 of which were arrested Wednesday. Fourteen of the individuals arrested Wednesday are listed in a federal grand jury's indictment and are suspected of conspiring to distribute heroin. Three others listed in the same indictment were already in custody. Six people listed in the indictment are still at large. Even so, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena called Wednesday's arrests a major victory in the fight against drugs and for public safety. "Today we took down one of Oakland's most violent, dangerous heroin trafficking Advertisement organizations," he said. The extensive investigation began two years ago when San Francisco Police Department Inspector Carl Bonner received information about the alleged drug traffickers. The probe eventually involved the DEA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oakland and San Francisco police departments and the Internal Revenue Service. During the investigation, two "persons of interest" were killed as rival gangs in East Oakland feuded over heroin distribution, authorities said. But authorities also said they were able to stop at least one other murder plot and during the course of the investigation, before Wednesday, law enforcement seized more than 6.5 pounds of tar heroin and one firearm. Those efforts all led up to Wednesday's raids, when hundreds of law enforcement agents executed 20 federal search warrants, eight state search warrants and conducted two probation searches at locations in Oakland, San Francisco, San Leandro, Hayward, Newark, Pittsburg, Vallejo, Tracy and Delhi, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Officials said they seized about 2.5 pounds of tar heroine, two pounds of marijuana, one ounce of crystal meth, one ounce of cocaine, one ounce of crack cocaine, and $11,800. They also seized two vehicles and 21 firearms, authorities said. Authorities believe the organization had the capacity to distribute 50-100 pounds of tar heroin per month. They said the heroin was being sold to people in all walks of life. Tucker called the effort a victory for "hometown security" in Oakland, saying when the city is faced with challenges like drug trade, "We're not going to be successful at all if we don't have strong partnerships and strong relationships with the federal government." U.S. Attorney Scott N. Schools echoed that sentiment, saying in a prepared statement, "This case is a great example of what can be accomplished when federal and local agencies combine resources. The case would not have been possible without the Oakland Police Department's exceptional cooperation."