Tempe police: 130 arrested in drug ring bust

The Associated Press
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

PHOENIX -- Authorities say a large drug distribution organization with ties to a Mexican cartel has been busted after a yearlong investigation that stretched across most of Maricopa County.

Tempe police say 130 people were arrested, including 30 to 40 high level Mexican national dealers with connections to the Sinaloa cartel.

The others arrested were foot soldiers in a widespread network that pushed drugs to California, New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska.

Police say they waited until Wednesday to announce the bust to allow time for a Maricopa County grand jury to bring indictments against all the defendants.

Authorities say they seized $5.8 million in methamphetamine and cocaine, $1.5 million in cash, 35 vehicles, 20 handguns and five assault rifles.

They say they served 16 search warrants, discovering a meth lab in north
Tempe and a "super lab" in Phoenix that had 60 pounds of meth waiting to be parceled inside the house.

http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/2401678.html