California Targets Immigrants With Familiar Medium MERCED, Calif. -- Fotonovelas -- pocket-sized picture books popular in Mexico -- have gotten a California makeover that authorities hope persuades immigrant laborers to resist the easy-money temptation of the methamphetamine trade. Thousands in the meth-plagued Central Valley have read the bilingual graphic-novel story of Jose, a farmworker who creates tragedy for his family by working for a drug ring. "No Vale La Pena," or "It's Not Worth It," has inspired a Spanish-language docudrama, and police agencies from Tennessee to Colorado have requested copies of both projects. [continues 500 words]
Made For Latinos, Movie Springs From A Fotonovela Fotonovelas -- pocket-sized picture books popular in Mexico -- have gotten a California makeover that authorities hope persuades immigrant laborers to resist the easy-money temptation of the methamphetamine trade. Thousands in the meth-plagued Central Valley have read the bilingual story of Jose, a farmworker who creates tragedy for his family by working for a drug ring. "No Vale La Pena," or "It's Not Worth It," has inspired a Spanish-language docudrama. Police from Tennessee to Colorado have requested copies of both projects. [continues 500 words]
Agents Say Marijuana Crackdown in San Francisco Could Lead to More Arrests Authorities described this week's raids on San Francisco pot clubs as one of the largest drug crackdowns in the area in recent memory, and said the arrests were the first step in uncovering a major international drug operation. U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan said agents raided three pot clubs that operated as fronts for marijuana and Ecstasy trafficking, and warned that federal drug laws would be strictly enforced even in cities tolerant of medical marijuana. [continues 341 words]