Pubdate: Fri, 10 Feb 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Felisa Cardona

DRUG BUST HITS MARKS

SEIZED: Copious Amounts of Cocaine, Crack, Meth

ARRESTED: 80 in Cuffs After Raids on Front Range

Almost 100 alleged drug traffickers and gang members are charged in 
what authorities say is the largest drug bust in colorado history 
based of the quantity of drugs found and the numbers of people 
involved in the conspiracy.

Agents are investigating the possibility the drug cases may have 
links to unsolved homicides throughout the metro area, said the FBI'S 
Special Agent in Charge, James Yacone.

By the end of the day Thursday, 80 defendants were in handcuffs and 
17 people were still on the loose.

More than 500 state and federal officers from 40 lawenforcement 
agencies made arrests in cities along the Front Range, surprising 
defendants in their pajamas.

Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a 
pound of methamphetamine.

Authorities say the drugs were ultimately supplied from traffickers 
in Mexico, but they declined to reveal the original source. Eleven 
weapons, including an SKS assault rifle, an AR-15 assault rifle and 
handguns, and $415,140 in cash also were found and taken by agents as evidence.

Twelve children were taken from homes where agents say drugs and 
weapons were stored in plain view.

Barbara roach, special agent in charge of the Denver Drug Enforcement 
Administration, said agents on the task forces focused on the big picture.

"We have brought to justice the high-level criminal bosses, money 
launderers and drug dealers who were profiting from the most 
vulnerable in our communities across the Denver metro area," she said.

The big case first started out as four separate investigations - one 
of them dubbed "Operation Double Trouble" - until law enforcement 
realized the cases had common links and connections involving narcotics.

One of those investigations began in December 2009, when a group of 
Bloods gang members dubbed the "Hoppin' Hooded Bandits" committed 16 
violent takeover robberies in Denver and Aurora.

"There was a lot of intelligence derived from the Hoppin' Hooded 
Bandits case, and they needed the resources to put it together," 
Yacone said of joining forces with other agencies.

"What triggered this investigation was the very violent activity of 
some hard-core gang members," said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates. 
"Once we focused on them, our investigation led to a complex 
narcotics conspiracy. It is a great relief that we are taking these 
suspects off the streets today."

The takeover robberies gave gang members a chance to raise enough 
cash to purchase large quantities of drugs to sell on the street.

Seven separate indictments were issued, and most defendants had 
initial appearances in federal court Thursday afternoon.

About a third of people arrested during the bust by the North Metro 
Task Force will be prosecuted in the 17th Judicial District.

Authorities said the penalties for a majority of the crimes charged 
range from10 years to life in prison.

Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr said the purpose of dismantling a 
large drug organization is to keep neighborhoods safe from crime.

"The local gangs should be on notice," he said."we are going to do 
everything we can to stop them."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom