Thread: 4 in Mexico indicted here in spread of deadly drug

in Mexico indicted here in spread of deadly drug

August 14, 2006

BY ANNIE SWEENEY Crime Reporter




Four men in Mexico have been indicted in Chicago for conspiracy to possess and distribute fentanyl, a powerful synthetic drug that has been mixed into the U.S. heroin supply, causing hundreds of overdose deaths in the last year.

The indictment was filed Aug. 3 in federal court. The filing says the men allegedly distributed fentanyl in the Chicago area and "elsewhere."

Federal officials would not say whether the men are connected to a bust at a Mexican lab suspected of manufacturing the fentanyl that has seeped into the U.S. drug supply. Five men, including a chemist, were arrested in the lab raid May 28 in Toluca, Mexico.

2 in custody, 2 fugitives



According to the August indictment, the four men are suspected of distributing fentanyl between 2002 and May 21 of this year. That is the same day authorities in Mexico discovered the lab, a U.S. Embassy official said.

Two of those just indicted -- Ricardo Valdez-Torres, also known as "El Celebro," and Alfredo Molina-Garcia, also known as "Guero" -- are in custody in Mexico. Jesus Mario Fajardo-Trujillo, also known as "Marito" or "Mario," and Guadalupe Moreno-Soto, also known as "Tio" and "Veterano," are fugitives thought to be in Mexico, officials said.

About 170 people have died in Cook County after using drugs -- mostly heroin -- laced with fentanyl, the Cook County medical examiner's office says. The first rash of deaths surfaced in February after Chicago Police noticed several overdoses tied to the Dearborn Homes on the South Side.

Since then, overdoses have been reported across the region, with large concentrations on the South and West sides.

Fentanyl, which is hundreds of times stronger than heroin or morphine, can kill instantly even in tiny amounts after causing muscles in the rib cage to seize. This strength makes the drug attractive to dealers who can stretch their product further, provided it is mixed properly. Some of the overdose victims in Cook County used pure fentanyl.

47 arrested in CHA bust



In a series of undercover stings, Chicago and federal officers have been pursuing the dealers peddling the fentanyl. In June, a major bust was made at the Dearborn Homes, resulting in the arrests of 47 -- including a Chicago Police officer and several reputed members of the Mickey Cobras street gang.

In addition to Chicago, deaths from fentanyl have been reported in Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

asweeney@suntimes.com

Another example that give lie to the mantra,

'good people, with family values, just coming here to do jobs Americans won't do.'

Well......if someone has a drug problem......this is yet another reason to try and kick it.

Well......if someone has a drug problem......this is yet another reason to try and kick it.