Jul 16, 2008 5:44 pm US/Pacific
Major Gang Bust Nets 10,000 Doses Of Ecstasy
SACRAMENTO (CBS13/AP) ―
Local law enforcement, federal agents and the Department of Justice joined forces in "Operation Smoking Dragon" to take down a major Asian gang believed to be responsible for widespread drug trafficking.
More than 10,000 tablets of MDMA, or ecstasy, were seized and at least 10 suspects arrested in the Sacramento raid of the Hop Sing gang, according to the Associated Press. The takedown came after a 2 1/2 year investigation.
The 10 suspects, residents of Elk Grove and Sacramento, have been charged with narcotics trafficking, conspiracy to distribute ecstasy, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. An 11th suspect, facing the same charges, is at large.
"There is perhaps no greater priority for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in this region than targeting dangerous street gangs," said U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. "Gangs like Hop Sing control the drug trade at the street level through violence. Turf wars among rival street gangs leads to much of the senseless violence that we have seen recently in parts of South Sacramento and Elk Grove."
Raids were also carried out against the same gang in San Francisco and Denver.
The suspects face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
