Federal Agents Seize 3 Frat Houses in Virginia University Drug Raids

Federal drug agents seized three University of Virginia fraternity houses in a raid that one official said shows “there are no havens” for drug traffickers.

The Justice Department reported that it was the first such case in which fraternity houses were taken under federal control.

Eight students were arrested on charges of drug distribution and three others indicted on the same charges were being sought, authorities said.

Federal marshals and local officers raided the Delta Upsilon, Phi Epsilon and Tau Kappa Epsilon houses on Thursday evening. The task force had been investigating drug traffic on campus since August, Police Chief John Bowen said.

He said the raid showed that the war on drugs was being waged beyond the inner cities.

Students at the university, founded 172 years ago by Thomas Jefferson, said they were stunned by the action.

“It hit me like a brick wall,” said Gary Stasko, 30, a graduate student who cooks for Phi Epsilon.

“I think anyone who lives in a university environment lives a bit of a sheltered life, so this is a shock,” said Philip Korologos, a law student. “You expect underage drinking, but these are federal agents here. This isn’t a small matter.”

The national headquarters of all 35 fraternities on campus were warned in August that, unless drug dealing stopped, authorities would take action, Bowen said.

Federal prosecutors said the 11 students, ages 19 to 23, were involved in multiple sales of small amounts of illegal drugs to undercover officers.