9 Held, Heroin, Cash Seized in Raid on Drug Ring

Authorities say that they have broken a major heroin and cocaine ring with the arrests of nine men, culminating a two-year investigation into local gangs.

“I think it’s a landmark day for the community of Oakland and the entire East Bay (in terms of putting) a crimp in the violence caused by drug wars,” said John Covert, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco office.

Police raided 19 homes in Alameda, San Mateo and Solano counties Monday, arresting the men and confiscating 5 pounds of heroin, 18 weapons and several hundred thousand dollars.

“These arrests were made after we uncovered evidence of planned drive-by shootings and gang warfare throughout Oakland and other locations,” Covert said. “With these suspects in custody, we’re hoping everybody in Oakland and throughout the (San Francisco) Bay Area can have a merrier Christmas.”

In addition to the nine arrested, five other suspects remain at large. All have ties to drug trafficking originated by the late Felix Mitchell, leader of Oakland’s 69th Street Gang or The Mob, Covert said. Mitchell was killed several years ago by a fellow inmate while he was serving a life term on drug charges at Leavenworth Penitentiary.

The operation was responsible for distributing at least 500 grams of heroin and 5 kilograms of cocaine--worth more than $1 million--in the last month alone, according to a federal complaint filed Monday.