18 Arrested in Drug Crackdown
Eighteen people have been arrested in the past week in a crackdown on suppliers of chemicals to methamphetamine manufacturers in the Los Angeles area, the U.S. attorney’s office said Thursday.
Among those arrested was the owner of a Torrance plastics manufacturing company, which was accused of supplying large amounts of Freon to two drug rings that were targeted in the probe. Freon is used in the methamphetamine “cooking” process.
James Ryals, 51, owner of Foamex, was charged with aiding and abetting in the manufacture of illicit drugs.
Distributors of chemicals that could be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine are required to report their sales to the state Department of Narcotic Enforcement.
Federal and state drug agents said Foamex sold 725 gallons of Freon to a single customer between May and June.
Also taken into custody were the alleged leaders of one methamphetamine manufacturing ring, Javier Arreola Torres, 31, of Lynwood, and Angelina Magallon Ceja, 32, of Compton.
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