14 ARRESTED IN MAJOR OPIUM RING $1.2 MILLION OF DRUG SEIZED.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer Federal officials announced Friday the arrest of 14 people, including three suspected leaders, connected to an international drug trafficking ring operating in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Agents also seized nearly 90 pounds of raw opium, valued at $1.2 million, smuggled smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. from Afghanistan and Iran. Although much of the opium came from Afghanistan, there was no connection made to Taliban forces or Afghan warlords Warlords may refer to:
The arrests were the result of a massive inter-agency investigation involving several local police departments, the Drug Enforcement Administration The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was established in 1973 by President richard m. nixon as part of the Justice Department, thus uniting a number of federal drug agencies that had often worked at cross-purposes. , the FBI, the Bureau of Immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, and others. ``We have successfully dismantled an opium trafficking cell,'' said DEA DEA - Data Encryption Algorithm Special Agent Jose Martinez, a spokesman. ``This investigation exposed a geographically diverse, international opium trafficking organization which utilized couriers to smuggle multi-kilogram quantities of opium from the Middle East into the U.S.'' Agents say the opium ring was headed by Ardash Harytoonian, who was arrested Thursday morning at his Glendale home. Agents also arrested Malek Khodaverdy of Sun Valley after searching a Pacoima carwash he owned, and discovered about 22 pounds of opium hidden in a vending machine. In May, agents allegedly saw Khodaverdy leaving the carwash to drop off a shopping bag in a car. The driver of that car, Jahangir Lahiji, was stopped for speeding, and officers found nearly three pounds of opium in the trunk, authorities said. DEA agents alleged that Harytoonian, Khodaverdy and Asbed Abramian of Glendale led the operation. The other suspects arrested Thursday range in age from 40 to 70. The arrests were made throughout Southern California. The suspects were indicted INDICTED, practice. When a man is accused by a bill of indictment preferred by a grand jury, he is said to be indicted. on felony money laundering The process of taking the proceeds of criminal activity and making them appear legal. Laundering allows criminals to transform illegally obtained gain into seemingly legitimate funds. and conspiracy charges and were being held at the federal Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center "Metropolitan Dentention Center" refers to a series of federal detention facilities (prisons) located throughout the United States. They are run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. without bail. Using confidential informants, wiretaps and electronic surveillance, agents learned that the ring used code words in drug-related phone conversations, calling the opium ``fabrics'' or ``tapestries,'' according to a court affidavit. John Fernandes, acting special agent in charge of the DEA in Los Angeles, said Thursday the well-structured organization had ``vast capabilities'' to import and distribute raw opium from Europe, Asia and North America, and could easily convert the opium to heroin. Agents said couriers would smuggle the drug in suitcases and fly on commercial planes into airports such as Los Angeles and San Francisco international airports. They would then drive to distribution centers across Los Angeles. The opium was then distributed to local buyers, Martinez said. The current street value for a kilogram of Persian opium is $30,000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jason Kandel, (818) 713-3664 jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com |
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