Pubdate: Sat, 23 Oct 1999
Source: Alameda Times-Star (CA)
Copyright: 1999 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact:  66 Jack London Sq. Oakland, CA 94607
Website: http://www.newschoice.com/newspapers/alameda/times/
Author: Harry Harris, Staff Writer

POLICE: MASSIVE COCAINE SEIZURE

Suspected Tavern Supplier Arrested

OAKLAND - A man suspected of being a main supplier of cocaine to Oakland
taverns was ar rested early Friday after police alleged they found 34 pounds
of cocaine worth at least $1.6 million in an apartment he shared with 17
other people.

Police said Sergio Antonio Moreno, 28, ad mitted his involvement in the
narcotics traf ficking, but said none of the other people in the apartment,
which included friends and relatives, had any role.

The arrest and seizure was made by Commu nity Policing Officers Frank
Vasquez and John O'Reilly. They are part of the Strategic Area Nar cotics
Enforcement (SANE) project, one of several instituted by Chief of Police
Richard Word to re duce crime and violence in the city.

Vice/Narcotics Section commander Lt. Rick Hart said the seizure was "one of
the largest in the city in recent memory. As part of the new strategies we
have concerning narcotics reduction in the city, we anticipate such large
seizures and arrests to continue."

Vasquez and O'Reilly developed information that Moreno was a "heavyweight"
cocaine dealer who dealt to a variety of customers, including Oakland bars
police have long suspected sold narcotics as well as drinks.

They learned Moreno "had a lot (of cocaine) on him" and "was about to move
it." Police said he would usually take phone orders and make deliv eries.

About 12:30 a.m., Vasquez, O'Reilly and other officers went to a
three-bedroom apartment in the 2500 block of 55th Ave. where Moreno lived.

Vasquez said the apartment is set back from the street, and is very
nondescript. "No one would ever suspect someone to sell that much dope out
of there," he said.

The officers did what is called a "knock and talk" procedure in which they
asked Moreno about the information they had and if he would agree to let the
apartment be searched. He did, police said.

Within minutes, officers allegedly found the co caine, all wrapped in
"bricks," in a closet of Moreno's bedroom. Three kilograms, or 6.6 pounds,
were in a laundry basket partially hidden by dirty clothes. Another 12.5
kilos, or 27.5 pounds, were found in an athletic bag.

Each kilo wholesales for between $14,500 and $16,500, police said and its
street value was esti mated at $1.6 million.

A loaded .22 pistol was found in a dresser in the room and Moreno had $860
cash on him, po lice said.

Vasquez said they believe Moreno had just pur chased the cocaine, paying up
to $200,000 for it.

Moreno was arrested for investigation of pos session of cocaine, possession
of cocaine for sale with a weight enhancement that it was more than 10
kilos, being armed while committing a felony and violating probation.

Moreno is on three years probation for a No vember 1998 conviction for being
an adult over 21 who had unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16.
He is being held without bail.

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