Portland cops bust Mexican drug ring operating in Old Town, Northwest
by Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian
Thursday February 19, 2009, 1:38 PM

Portland narcotics investigators say they've disrupted a Mexican drug ring that was operating in Woodburn and sending drug runners to Northwest Portland and Old Town to sell heroin and cocaine.

Complaints from Central Precinct officers about the drug activity led to the four-month Drugs and Vice Division investigation. On Wednesday, officers seized three pounds of heroin and two pounds of cocaine, and made eight arrests after raiding three homes and a storage facility in the Woodburn and Clackamas areas.


"We have all kind of information out there, reporting to us that they're getting calls from uptight heroin junkies. From that perspective, we've made a dent in the trade," said Drugs and Vice Division Capt. Mark Kruger.

But Kruger said he recognizes that others will fill the void if police don't keep attention on the area. "It will make a dent temporarily."

Police arrested Jose Sandodal-Gonzalez, 32, on numerous drug charges in Woodburn and identified him as the main supplier. Seven others arrested were described as his "runners," meaning they'd carry the drug to Portland after a user phoned them to arrange a buy.

Remarkably, the drug dealers seemed to keep "banker's hours," Kruger said, adding that they typically started business around 8 a.m., and continued until late in the afternoon before halting until the next day.

"This particular group is more call-up and deliver," Kruger said. "We call it the pizza delivery mode. The drug user calls up the source, and the runner comes and delivers the drugs."

-- Maxine Bernstein; maxinebernstein@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/inde ... n_dru.html