Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 Source: Repository, The Copyright: 2001 The Repository Contact: http://www.cantonrep.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/954 Authors: Lori Monsewicz and Paul M. Krawzak CANTON TIED TO INTERNATIONAL DRUG RING CANTON - Three Canton men were among the 76 people arrested simultaneously nationwide Wednesday in a federal sting aimed at crippling a multimillion-dollar, international drug-smuggling ring. Federal officials said Wednesday that Canton is the only "distribution cell" in Ohio of the Marquis Organization, an international drug-smuggling operation with a "propensity for violence," said Michael L. Chapman, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Washington, D.C. "The Marquis Organization appears to be fairly typical of today's organizations operating from Mexico - smaller groups that rely on each other to capitalize on drug-trafficking opportunities. Nevertheless, these organizations remain just as violent and dangerous as ever," said DEA Administrator Donnie Marshall in a news release Wednesday. In Canton, John "Jay" Tyson, 28, of 2337 14th St. NE; Marcus Boykins, also known as Karon Kevin "KK" Dallas, 33, of 805 Columbus Rd. NW; and Juba Smith, age unavailable, were in the custody of U.S. marshals Wednesday, said Robert Bulford, assistant U.S. attorney of the Northern District of Ohio in Akron. Tyson and Dallas were arrested on federal warrants, each charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Smith, who was found with a quarter of a kilo of cocaine, was arrested on a state warrant charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, said Special Agent Susan Feld of the DEA's Detroit office. All three will be indicted on federal charges, she said. Boykins and Tyson were arrested early Wednesday morning as search warrants were served at their homes and at four other locations throughout Stark County, Bulford said. Internationally, the ring - run by the brother of drug lord Amado Carrillo-Fuentes, who died in a botched plastic surgery in 1997 - warehoused large quantities of cocaine and marijuana in Mexico before shipping the drugs into south Texas and then onto distribution cells throughout the United States, Chapman said. The drugs were hidden primarily under produce in tractor-trailers. The sting targeted a drug-trafficking organization based in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, "responsible for putting tens of millions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana on the streets of at least a dozen U.S. cities," Chapman said. Vincente Carrillo-Fuentes and other suspected drug kingpins were arrested earlier this month, according to The Associated Press. During the investigation, agents seized 9,000 kilograms of cocaine, 28,000 pounds of marijuana and $12.5 million in cash. A Laredo, Texas, warehouse for Corona beer was among those being searched Wednesday, the AP reported. The distribution cell in Ohio was in Canton, DEA officials in Detroit said. Arrests were made in the early morning hours Wednesday in 15 other cities across the nation, and 14 suspects in Mexico were being submitted to Mexican authorities. Bulford declined to give the addresses of the other local places where the warrants were served, and he could not say whether any other arrests were pending. The sting, dubbed Operation Marquis, culminated an 18-monthlong investigation by agents of the DEA, FBI and U.S. Customs Service. Several state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Stark County Sheriff's and the Canton Police departments and the Stark County Metropolitan Narcotics Unit, also were involved in the investigation. On Wednesday in Stark County, authorities seized $7,000 in cash and four weapons, including a Tec 9 automatic weapon. They declined to name the total amount and types of drugs confiscated. Sheriff Tim Swanson said that his deputies and Metro Narcotics officers searched garages at Tyson's address on 14th Street NE and at 29051/2 Second St. NW, where they found more than $100,000 in tools "of industrial, commercial and residential grade." The sheriff believes these were stolen and asked that no one call the Sheriff's Department to claim the items until they can be processed, a job expected to be completed by Wednesday. Swanson said he would announce a phone number for burglary and theft victims to call to find out whether any stolen items belong to them. Deputies used two large rental box trucks and made a few trips in each truck with loads to a local storage facility where the items will be inventoried and returned. They also found a small amount of crack cocaine in one tool cabinet and impounded a 1995 Chevrolet van, which they plan to search. The three men arrested are scheduled to appear at 2 p.m. Friday before federal Magistrate James Gallas in federal court in Akron. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom