Biggest Meth Bust Of 2007 Announced In SJ

NBC11.com
POSTED: 4:06 pm PST November 6, 2007
UPDATED: 4:24 pm PST November 6, 2007

Several law enforcement agencies Tuesday announced the seizure of more than 15 pounds of pure crystal methamphetamine, 40 pounds of a common medication used to make the drug and $14,000 dollars in cash in one of the biggest busts this year.

Gilberto Sanchez Solorio, 36, was arrested Thursday with Yasmin Guzman-Camacho, 21, for the alleged possession and manufacture of the drugs, which investigators valued at between $500,000 to $600,000.

Members of the California Department of Justice, South Bay METRO Task Force, Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and the State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement stood before a table piled with about 16 large bags of pseudoephedrine tablets and about 12 bags of crystal meth, or ice. Also on the table were two automatic handguns, a pile of cash and several containers holding other ingredients used in the manufacture of ice.

Pseudoephedrine tablets, a behind-the-counter decongestant, are often collected by associates of manufacturers and used in the making of ice. The process of going store to store to collect the medication is called "smurfing."

"Some of you may remember the 80s with cocaine," Department of Justice Special Agent in Charge Bob Cooke said. "That was nothing compared to what's happening in California with meth."

Cooke said he could only think of three or four busts in his Central Coast and South Bay region this year of 10 pounds or more.

The arrests came at about 10:30 p.m. when law enforcement officials raided a home at 953 Burman Drive near Coyote Creek Park in east San Jose. During the raid two boys, 16 and 17, were present and taken into the care of an uncle, according to Cooke.

The link between the use of ice and crime is painfully obvious with 50 percent of those arrested this year in Santa Clara County testing positive for the drug, according to Deputy District Attorney Thanh Ngo.

"They are pouring chemicals down the drain, it's destroying our environment, it's destroying our families," Ngo said.

Solorio is being held in a Santa Clara County jail on $2 million bail while Guzman-Camacho is being held on an immigration detainer but is not facing drug charges, Ngo said.

He faces 19 years in prison.

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