10 Alleged Leaders of Drug Ring Arrested

Police have arrested 10 men--including seven in Los Angeles County--who are believed to be the overlords of a Southern California narcotics trafficking ring associated with Mexico’s feared Tijuana drug cartel, authorities said Monday.

The three-month investigation, which focused on drug trafficking in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Diego counties, also netted about 500 kilos of cocaine and four pounds of heroin that authorities said was worth $7 million on the street.

Capt. Randall Blair of the Orange County Regional Narcotics Suppression Program said the group was distributing large quantities of cocaine and heroin throughout Southern California.

“It was a very efficient trafficking cell that was dealing with a good-sized amount of drugs and money,” Blair said.

On Thursday, authorities arrested four primary suspects in La Puente and seized 160 kilos of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in a pickup, Blair said.

Blair identified the suspects as Hector Navarro Penilla, Hector Javier Jimenez Espinoza, Jesus Ayon and Carlos Ramirez. At the time of the arrests, Ayon had a “no bail” warrant for narcotics trafficking, Blair said.

Two days previously, authorities found 100 kilos of cocaine concealed in a vehicle parked in Lake Forest and arrested Pedro De La Cruz at the same address, Blair said.

Blair said De La Cruz and the four men arrested in La Puente will be arraigned today in South Court in Laguna Niguel on state drug conspiracy and money laundering charges. Federal charges may be filed later, he said.

On Jan. 26, Pomona police arrested Jaime Miranda and seized two pounds of heroin and four kilos of cocaine in Valinda, Blair said. Members of the Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team took Maximo Ramos into custody in Moreno Valley in mid-January and found $100,000 in suspected drug proceeds and 100 kilos of cocaine in his home, Blair said. Santa Ana police arrested Raul Sarmiento and seized 20 kilos of cocaine in Tustin in early January, he said.

Two other men--Manuel Santa Cruz and Jesus Brazamontes--were picked up on North Daly Street in Los Angeles in November and seized 19 kilos of cocaine and 1 1/2 pounds of heroin, Blair said.

Authorities said the FBI was “instrumental in identifying the subjects in charge of the smuggling ring and connecting them with the Arellano Felix organization”-- identified by authorities as Mexico’s most violent drug cartel.

The announcement of the arrests was delayed to avoid tipping off other suspects in the ring, which is believed to have at least 20 members, Blair said. Other suspects remain at large.