Investigation of Cocaine Ring Leads to 3 Arrests

A two-month combined federal and state undercover investigation of a wholesale cocaine drug ring operating in San Diego and Los Angeles counties has ended with three arrests and the seizure of 25 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than $400,000, authorities said Wednesday.

The ring, which had been operating in both counties for two years, was broken up Tuesday with the three arrests, officials said.

The arrests occurred when members of the group delivered the first of what were to be weekly deliveries to undercover agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

The officers posed as drug dealers, and the suspects allegedly agreed to supply them with at least 220 pounds of cocaine a month for “as long as we could handle that amount,” said DEA spokesman Ron D’Ulisse.

Arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine were Francisco Javier Luna-Fernandez, 45, of Chula Vista; Alfredo Eduardo Flores-Ibarra, 28, address unknown, and Jose Daniel Sainz, 27, of San Diego, owner of a Tijuana record store.

All were being held Wednesday at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown San Diego.

Luna-Fernandez, the alleged ring leader, was arrested about 6 p.m. Tuesday after he allegedly delivered 55 pounds of cocaine to undercover agents at the Chula Vista Hotel in the 300 block of Broadway in Chula Vista, said D’Ulisse.

Flores-Ibarra and Sainz were arrested at Sainz’ home shortly afterward.

None of the men were armed or resisted arrest, he said.

If convicted on all counts, each man could be sentenced to 10 years to life with no possibility of parole and a $4 million fine.

Authorities said the ring’s supply of cocaine, a sample of which tested to be between 95% and 97% pure, was transported through Mexico from Colombia, smuggled into the United States and stored in the Los Angeles area, D’Ulisse said.

The identity of a fourth man, believed to be in charge of the ring’s supply in Los Angeles county, is known and his arrest is expected shortly, D’Ulisse said.

Though the DEA was involved in the seizure of 1,181 pounds of cocaine last year, it has already helped seize more than 2,100 pounds of the drug so far this year, he said.

Part of the reason seizures have increased is that agents can now infiltrate drug rings with more ease, D’Ulisse said. Agents have found that there are fewer large-scale drug dealers because of tough new mandatory sentencing laws requiring 10 years in jail for dealers selling large quantities.

As a result, the remaining large-scale drug dealers have become relatively lax in selling big amounts of cocaine because they need customers, allowing agents easier access, D’Ulisse said.

About 200 pounds of cocaine are transported into the U.S. from Mexico each day, which accounts for about half the cocaine transported to the U.S. daily, D’Ulisse said.