The three-year undercover operation culminated with the recovery of $25 million nationwide and dozens of arrests.
KELLY WHEELER City News Servic
A three-year undercover operation targeting an international drug trafficking operation with a large San Diego-based distribution network culminated with the recovery of $25 million nationwide and dozens of arrests.
"This operation has dismantled a nationwide drug trafficking organization, and San Diego was at ground zero," said San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.
The undercover operation, dubbed "Operation Funk 49," began in April 2004 after a tip to law enforcement from a low-level drug user, and investigators followed the drug trail to key distributors in San Diego.
The drug organization smuggled large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin from Guadalajara, Mexico, through Tijuana and into the United States.
From there, it was distributed throughout San Diego County and into various cities, including San Francisco, Anaheim, Riverside, Yakima, Detroit, Atlanta, New York and Greensboro, N.C., authorities said.
Ralph Partridge, special agent-in-charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in San Diego, said cooperation between many law enforcement agencies led to the arrests of 175 people nationwide.
"It's the determination of the law enforcement community here in San Diego and throughout the nation that (we) basically broke a pipeline of drug trafficking and drug-smuggling routes across the United States," Partridge said.
In San Diego County, more than a dozen warrants were issued, resulting in the arrests of 59 individuals and the confiscation of two pounds of heroin, 1,246 pounds of cocaine and 604 pounds of meth.
Law enforcement officials also confiscated more than $9.1 million in cash, 28 vehicles and several weapons.
"Stopping the flow of illegal drugs into and around San Diego County continues to be one of our top priorities," Dumanis said. "Today, we helped stop the flow of drugs throughout San Diego County and in the nation."
"Operation Funk 49" was named after the Joe Walsh song "Funk 49," which reflects the long hours put in by agents working on the undercover investigation, said Deputy District Attorney Chris Lindberg.
Information From: LexisNexis Wire Service
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops