Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 Source: Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC) Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Sun Contact: http://www.herald-sun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428 Author: Eric Olson Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) PART OF COCAINE IN BUST NOT REAL DURHAM -- A portion of the cocaine seized in a record-setting bust in Durham this month was actually fake cocaine investigators had swapped out at some point during the transport of the real cocaine from Phoenix to Durham, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. Federal Court. An anonymous tip in Phoenix alerted federal authorities to an unregistered Ford F-150 pickup truck and a tan Nissan Quest minivan that contained about 45 kilograms, or about 99 pounds, of cocaine, according to the Feb. 2 affidavit, written by Durham police Officer K.D. York and signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace M. Dixon. The two vehicles were reportedly being hauled to North Carolina on a tractor trailer car hauler. Investigators swapped the real cocaine for fake cocaine during the transport, though the affidavit does not say where or when the switch occurred. On Feb. 1, investigators spotted the vehicles on the car hauler at a Youngsville, N.C., auto auction and began a stakeout of the area, the affidavit states. Authorities spotted four men, who were later arrested, in a white Honda Prelude and a white Ford Explorer. The men were "conducting countersurveillance" in the auction parking lot. The two vehicles were taken off the car hauler and picked up by tow trucks a short time later, the affidavit states. The trucks hauled the cars to Cheek Road and Harvest Drive, where they were dropped off on the side of the road. Authorities said several Hispanic men arrived and met near the vehicles before a man got into each vehicle and drove them to 2841 Stuart Drive. Stuart Drive runs parallel to University Drive between Hope Valley and West Cornwallis roads. The men drove the vehicles into a garage at the end of the driveway, according to the affidavit. Four men then went inside the house briefly before leaving in a tan Honda Accord. At that point, authorities entered the house and seized 43 kilograms, about 95 pounds, of fake cocaine, a handgun, drug packaging materials, money ledgers and paperwork containing the names of the four men who were later arrested. [Names Redacted] They were charged with attempting to possess 500 grams (1.1 pounds) or more of cocaine, possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Police seized the remainder of the record-setting 167 pounds of cocaine from a vehicle the suspects drove back to the house. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth