Large Gilroy meth bust had roots in Sacramento

[CitaDeL]

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/19/297...to-detail.html

Large Gilroy meth bust had roots in Sacramento
clocke@sacbee.com
Published Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010


An investigation into a Mexican-based drug trafficking operation that began a year ago in Sacramento County climaxed Thursday in Gilroy when law enforcement officers seized methamphetamine with an estimated street value of between $80 million and $100 million.

Lt. Fred Links, commander of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department's multiagency drug task forces, said the single-family residence in Gilroy is believed to have been the primary distribution hub for the Sacramento region, the Central Valley and perhaps communities as far away as the East Coast.

"It was as if they had an assembly line for each stage of manufacturing or production in each room of the house," Links said during Thursday evening news conference.

Assisted by agents from the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and Gilroy police officers, the Sacramento Sheriff's teams served search warrants at five residences in Sacramento County and one in Modesto, as well as the Gilroy house.

But Gilroy was where Links said officers seized 459 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, including raw methamphetamine in various stages of conversion to crystal, or "ice."

They also seized 15 pounds of cocaine, which was being packaged in kilo and half-kilo amounts. In addition, officers found two firearms and $35,000 in cash.

Links said it was the biggest seizure he had seen in 31 years with the Sheriff's Department.

Three people were arrested as a result of the searches, all at the Gilroy house. All are Mexican nationals, who Links said are believed to hold mid- or upper-level positions in the distribution operation.

Taken into custody were Fabian Figueroa Ayala, 28; Hector Borraya Salazar, 43; and Sergio Murillo Valencia, 35.

Links said all had Mexican identification documents that were recovered during the arrest. They were booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of possession for sale of methamphetamine and for manufacturing. Immigration holds also have been placed on all three by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They will be transferred to Sacramento County in a few days.

Links said the houses searched in Modesto and Sacramento County were primarily homes for family members of people believed to be involved in the local distribution operations. Those searches, he said, yielded records of the activities.

Links said the investigation began in Sacramento about this time last year when an undercover officer made a transaction with a low-level player in the drug operation.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Roots in Sacramento?... Yeah, after all it is the Capital of Northern Mexico.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Originally Posted by CitaDeL

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/19/297...to-detail.html



Roots in Sacramento?... Yeah, after all it is the Capital of Northern Mexico.

The sheriff is all proud of his accomplishment, but someone needs to remind him he pretty much welcomed this type of activity several years back when he cut a deal with the mexican invaders setting up shop at 47th and MLK Blvd.

[Rim05]

Reading about all these, grow areas causes me to wonder about that Wild Life Refuge in AZ where the 'be aware' signs have been put up by the government. I wonder just what would be found if that park was really investigated? Our government does not seem to wonder or care, just don't find out.

[ilbegone]

Originally Posted by Ayatollahgondola

The sheriff is all proud of his accomplishment, but someone needs to remind him he pretty much welcomed this type of activity several years back when he cut a deal with the mexican invaders setting up shop at 47th and MLK Blvd.

Can you tell us more about this?

[Ayatollahgondola]

Originally Posted by ilbegone

Can you tell us more about this?

SOS protested the day laborers and demanded local enforcement, not just of immigration laws, but license, nuisance, codes, etc. The sheriff's answer was to assign a high ranking officer to learn how to work with them, and then later agreed in principle to let a day labor center be built. He knew there was trafficking from mexico, he knew they were bringing the underworld into sacramento, and he knew it was an attraction for more

[ilbegone]

Originally Posted by Ayatollahgondola

SOS protested the day laborers and demanded local enforcement, not just of immigration laws, but license, nuisance, codes, etc. The sheriff's answer was to assign a high ranking officer to learn how to work with them, and then later agreed in principle to let a day labor center be built. He knew there was trafficking from mexico, he knew they were bringing the underworld into sacramento, and he knew it was an attraction for more

The Sheriff visible stepped on immigration law, perhaps nothing new.

But ignoring license laws and other code affects the profitability of legitimate business. The dollar is noticed before anything else, local business had nothing to say or did local government ignore them as well?

Is the location city or county jurisdiction, or does the city contract with the county? If so, how much leverage would one have on the other?

Can it be proven that the Sheriff knew about and ignored drug trafficking criminal aliens? Can a case be made to either can or vote out the Sheriff, or would it be a potential case of slander or libel?

What sort of political climate is there in County and city government, and what sort of retribution can be dished out for rocking the boat?

For example in LA: I understand that the same reporter who went after DWP employees had some dirt on the LAPD he planned taking public but canned when informed (presumably from elements within the LAPD) that his life would become a living hell and that he would cease to have a career.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Originally Posted by ilbegone

The Sheriff visible stepped on immigration law, perhaps nothing new.

But ignoring license laws and other code affects the profitability of legitimate business. The dollar is noticed before anything else, local business had nothing to say or did local government ignore them as well?

Is the location city or county jurisdiction, or does the city contract with the county? If so, how much leverage would one have on the other?

Can it be proven that the Sheriff knew about and ignored drug trafficking criminal aliens? Can a case be made to either can or vote out the Sheriff, or would it be a potential case of slander or libel?

What sort of political climate is there in County and city government, and what sort of retribution can be dished out for rocking the boat?

For example in LA: I understand that the same reporter who went after DWP employees had some dirt on the LAPD he planned taking public but canned when informed (presumably from elements within the LAPD) that his life would become a living hell and that he would cease to have a career.

The sheriff is retiring from the department. We tried to rub his nose in it by holding protests right in front of the jail, but he and the local press ignored it

[ilbegone]

The press ignored it, that's a given. And the sheriff is leaving, good riddance.

But what did business have to say? Were they caught up in the hypocrisy between foreign illegality which siphons their profit and cheap illegal labor which fattens their cash flow?

How about the incoming sheriff, what doe the political weather have in store for him?


Or am I pummeling a long dead Mr. Ed?



OOOOOOOHHHH WILLLLLLLLLBUR!!!!!!!!!!

[Ayatollahgondola]

No, the horse is far from dead. The prospctive new sheriff's have not chimed in yet, but I hope to make them soon.

Businesses of any size either didn't chime in, or did so for legalization so they could have a larger pool of cheap labor to pick from