Car Swap Prompted Drug Bust Described by Bush

The $30-million cocaine seizure in Orange County divulged by President Bush last week was the result of a two-week investigation launched after a Sheriff’s Department investigator witnessed several men exchanging vehicles at a shopping mall in South County, authorities said Monday.

Although investigators seized approximately 900 pounds of cocaine and $10,000 in cash last Thursday, the announcement was delayed until Friday when Bush brought his anti-drug message to 13,000 cheering elementary and high school students at Santa Ana Stadium.

“Just two nights ago, right here in Orange County, two cars were pulled over carrying nearly 900 pounds of cocaine,” Bush said. “Thanks to your courageous anti-narcotics efforts, 4 million doses with a street value of $30 million, won’t poison our kids.”

But the Sheriff’s Department refused to disclose details of the case until Monday.

Sheriff’s Department Lt. Bob Rivas said investigators actually seized three cars and so far have arrested one woman on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale.

Omaira Betancourt, 23, a Colombian national, is being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Rivas said the investigation began about two weeks ago after an investigator saw the “suspicious activities at the mall.” Concluding that the activities were probably part of a drug-distribution ring, investigators began a surveillance.

On March 1, Rivas said, deputies followed several vehicles from a Laguna Hills restaurant to Cypress, where they served search warrants at an apartment in the 9000 block of Holder Street and seized two vehicles--a 1989 Ford Thunderbird and a 1989 BMW containing a combined 270 kilos of cocaine, Rivas said.

Investigators arrested Betancourt at the apartment.

A third vehicle was seized in the Laguna Hills area and 127 kilos of cocaine were found in the trunk, Rivas said.