Local News in Brief : San Diego
Federal drug agents arrested 10 people Tuesday, ending an 18-month investigation of a marijuana and cocaine-smuggling ring that operated between San Diego and Buffalo, N.Y.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents, assisted by the FBI, made the arrests in San Diego County and at several out-of-state locations.
According to indictments unsealed in the case, Ralph Butterwegge, 38, of Fallbrook and Jose Miguel Ramirez, 31, a Colombian national, headed the ring. Butterwegge was arrested in Amarillo, Tex., while Ramirez was arrested in Chicago. Agents also seized $800,000 in cash when they arrested Butterwegge, DEA spokesman Ron D’Ullisse said.
Authorities believe the ring imported 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of marijuana and up to 200 kilograms of cocaine. A search Tuesday of a residence in Rainbow yielded 1,000 pounds of marijuana and six weapons, said D’Ullisse. Agents found Norman Robert King, 36, and Sarah Garrett, 29, in the house and arrested them both.
Other defendants were arrested in Phoenix; Memphis, Tenn., and in Colorado. They will be returned to San Diego, where they will be tried in U. S. District Court.
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