Thread: Ohio-Greene County drug bust of 121 pounds of cocaine has 'M

Greene County drug bust of 121 pounds of cocaine has 'Mexican connection'

By Christopher Magan

Staff Writer

Thursday, May 29, 2008

XENIA — The latest and largest cocaine bust — 121 pounds worth more than $5 million — in Greene County has a familiar ring for authorities.

It's the third drug operation with "a Mexican connection" Greene County police have dismantled in the past year.



The Greene County drug task force seized 55 kilograms, or 121 pounds, of cocaine, at least $500,000 in cash and a semi-automatic handgun from several homes in Xenia.Click to enlarge

The Greene County drug task force seized 55 kilograms, or 121 pounds, of cocaine, at least $500,000 in cash and a semi-automatic handgun from homes on New Mexico Drive, Louisiana Drive and East Main Street and LA's Lounge in Xenia Town Square, according to officials.

Bruce May, of the drug task force, said Tuesday's raid netted drugs with a street value of $5.5 million.

Police arrested Ismael Gonzalez, of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Carlos A. Tartida-Villalba, a Mexican national.

Both men also lived at 1594 E. Main St. just outside the Xenia city limits. They are charged with cocaine trafficking with racketeering and conspiracy charges expected in the future, May said.

• In April 2007, police arrested Cesar Valentine Lopez-Ruiz, who operated a drug operation from a home in Kettering funneling millions in cocaine and heroin into the Dayton region. Lopez-Ruiz pleaded guilty to felony racketeering charges and is serving a 20-year sentence.

• Police are still searching for 28-year-old Yellow Springs native Umoja Iddi Bakari who they say was the leader of a drug ring that brought cocaine and marijuana into the county from Columbus for years.

Police raided six Columbus area homes owned by Bakari May 2, but were only able to arrest his girlfriend REDACTED. Both face racketeering and drug trafficking charges.

Prosecutor Stephen K. Haller said all three cases have a "Mexican connection" with the drugs coming from south of the border.

Informants, uncover drug purchases and citizen complaints all supplied the task force with information. More arrests are expected and individuals already in custody on previous drug charges could also face new charges, May said.

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