33 arrested for allegedly selling drugs at military housing in San Diego
Thirty-three people have been arrested in an undercover operation targeting suspected drug dealers selling narcotics in off-base military housing, the San Diego County district attorney’s office announced today. Of those arrested, 31 were civilians, one was active-duty Navy and one was a former Navy sailor, officials said.
Operation Endless Summer began last fall when civilian and military officials became concerned about an apparent increase in drug trafficking in military housing. As part of the operation, law enforcement personnel seized $19,000 in cash, 2 pounds of methamphetamine, half a pound of cocaine, more than 75 Oxycontin pills, 100 Ecstasy pills, more than 400 marijuana plants and seven guns.
Officials declined to specify which military housing complex was the center of the investigation. The Navy owns several off-base housing projects in the San Diego area.
The 33 were arrested over the past week; most remain in custody. The defendants are set to be arraigned in Superior Court in downtown San Diego on charges of possession of drugs and possession with intent to sell drugs. The undercover operation was run jointly by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the San Diego police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. More arrests are possible, officials said.
"The message we want to get out is this: If you sell drugs near military housing, you’re going to get caught," said Pete Hughes, special agent in charge of the NCIS southwest field office. "If I was a drug dealer, I wouldn’t sell to anyone with a high-and-tight haircut or their dependents."
Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis said the suspected dealers were "jeopardizing public safety in military housing."
-- Tony Perry
Previously on L.A. Now
Rihanna cooperating with police in assault investigations
Octuplets' mom identifies her fertility clinic in Beverly Hills
Man leads police on chase, then fatally shoots himself in standoff
Chris Brown's chewing gum ads put on hold amid assault probe
To Times Editor
Fantastic. Need more drug smashing like that in San Diego. Thanks
Posted by: larry powers | February 10, 2009 at 12:34 PM
This is a joke. If the military, with all its discipline, can't keep its people out of the drug trade, how does the government expect to keep civilians out of it and neighborhoods safe?
We have to move towards legalizing drugs. Take the criminality out of them.
Posted by: Carol | February 10, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Larry, Larry, Larry. Where did your mom and I go wrong?
Posted by: J R | February 10, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Carol - did all those drugs you do cause THAT much brain damage? Legalizing drugs is not the answer. Can you imagine buying ecstasy, cocaine, meth, and oxy at your local grocery store?
While I understand your misspent youth has rotted your brain - please try to use what is left of your brain to think before you speak
Posted by: Kevin | February 10, 2009 at 01:39 PM
THANKS FOR THE STORY.
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY HOUSING THAT ARE BUYING THESE DRUGS?
Posted by: D WALLICK | February 10, 2009 at 01:41 PM
This sting included phoning medical marijuana suppliers listed onthe Internet and having them deliver to Navy housing. Sounds like entrapment to me, I'd like to see how many convictions they can get out of this mess.
Posted by: BIll A | February 10, 2009 at 01:41 PM
WHY DO PEOPLE GET SURPRISED FOR???? CAN THIS BE JUSTIFIED BY THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS???? I MEAN, PEOPLE KILLING THEIR WHOLE FAMILY ARE BEING JUSTIFIED BY THE ECONOMY...HOW COME SOMEONE DEALING DRUGS THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS TO FLOW IN THE U.S. CAN'T BE JUSTIFIED???? THEY GOT BILLS TO PAY, THE ARE "CONTRIBUTING" TO THE ECONOMY...I MEAN, IF ANYTHING, THIS IS THE WORSE TIME TO CUT THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT OF AMERICA'S NEVER ENDING DRUG FINANCIAL BENEFIT. 33 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED, BUT I BET YOU....MORE THAN HALF ARE GOING TO GET RELEASE FOR CLEAN RECORDS OR BECAUSE IT WAS SIMPLY NOT THEIR TIME TO GO...SO IF YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND HERE....IT IS SIMPLY A WASTE OF MONEY FOR THIS POLICE OFFICERS TO ARREST THESE PEOPLE...THEY DONT REALIZE THEY WASTE TAX DOLLARS BY DOING THIS....HOW COME IS FAIR FOR THEM TO WASTE MONEY BUT IS NOT FAIR FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE MONEY???? WHERE'S THE LOGIC HERE....SCREW THE FACT THAT DRUGS RUIN LIVES...THAT'S WHY WE LIVE IN AMERICA...WHERE "CHOICES" ARE AMERICA'S REASON OF LIVING...WE GOT CHOICES YOU KNOW...
Posted by: GHETTO GNIUS | February 10, 2009 at 02:06 PM
Legalize drugs, tax the hell out of them and get out of this deficit. If people OD and die, it’s okay, America doesn’t need stupid people as citizens… and besides the more people that die… hello population control : )
Peace & Love
Posted by: Jenn | February 10, 2009 at 02:13 PM
"If I was a drug dealer, I wouldn’t sell to anyone with a high-and-tight haircut or their dependents."
funny how these guys always think it the others fault - we live in a nation fueled by denial, not oil
Posted by: bullwinkle | February 10, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Bill Bill Bill. Entrapment is getting someone to do something they would not normally do. This case was investigated by Federal Agents (NCIS) who do not recognize medical marijuana. These folks were openly selling marijuana on the internet and the cops were buyers that were undercover. Its the same thing as if vice cops were arresting prostitutes on the corner that were soliciting sex.
Posted by: bo | February 10, 2009 at 02:19 PM
As the military and Big Pharma hand out drugs liberally to men and women over-taxed by fighting wars and/or unemployment; and as most drug imprisonments do not fall on the heads of rich people; and as life in our glorious democracy bails out the rich and leaves the poor homeless and depressed; and due to the fact that our jails are hopelessly overcrowded; and because both buying and selling of street drugs often leads to a shoot out sooner or later, it would seem wise to at least consider decriminalizing drugs.
Posted by: Jean Gerard | February 10, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Kevin, while your moralizing may have degraded YOUR capacity to reason, you might consider what legalizing alcohol did to the deadly black market that surrounded it. Sure, people still buy it, overindulge in it, and even die from it, but do we have cartels and mobs killing for it anymore? No, and you'd do well to consider that before you get all high-and-mighty on someone who proposes we might learn a lesson from that.
Posted by: Zach | February 10, 2009 at 02:48 PM
My brother is in the Army and is stationed in Texas. He was telling me that they've busted guys who set up entire meth labs in their rooms! A couple of guys where running a prostitution ring, too! Because the Army has admitted anyone with a pulse they are starting to get the bottom of the barrel. The scary part is all of the gang-bangers & thugs who are now trained killers! My brother was scared of these guys, because he could not trust them. You need to know that these guys have your back while in a war zone. Sad.
Posted by: Diana Dee | February 10, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Kevin at 1:39--I'm clean as a whistle. Never did drugs. You see, not only are they illegal, but they'd rot my brain.
I still say legalize drugs, marijuana at least. You take out the criminality. You also might take out some of the thrill. What kid wants to try something legal?
Posted by: Carol | February 10, 2009 at 03:06 PM
If you decriminalize drugs, you're basically telling anyone it's okay; by doing so, are you prepared for the cost? How many people will become addicted to drugs then, and end up in rehab paid for by the state, and in effect, you? You're also looking at not only an increase in rehab costs, but violent crime and other health related issues that will come from drugs, such as brain damage and babies born addicted or from conditions due to related issues. Besides, what pharmaceutical company will actually make them? You don't know the contents of what you're getting anyway; do you really think that decriminalizing them will make the drugs you get better? THC levels in marijuana now versus the '70s is quite a bit higher. And let's not forget the lawsuits that will come from the idiots who do the drugs, then want to sue the people who are making them. Put the people addicted in rehab and counseling, not jail; put the people who make it or sell it in jail. That's where they belong.
Posted by: Cathy, San Diego, CA | February 10, 2009 at 03:09 PM
If any of you idiots could read you would see that only one active duty military person was arrested, everyone else was a civilian.
Jesus, read the whole damned article next time.
Posted by: Bill G | February 10, 2009 at 03:10 PM
A Canadian Observer:
George Shultz (Secretary of State 1982 - 1989) after leaving public office in 1989 called for the legalization of recreational drugs. He said " we believe the global war on drugs is now causing more harm than the drug abuse itself".
Walter Cronkite (retired anchorman CBS Evening News) has said (in support of the Drug Policy Alliance) "the war on drugs is a failure ... it"s casualties are the wasted lives of our own citizens".
I personally don't support drug use of any kind but it seems to me the only hope to reverse the damage from this bogus war is to take the profit out of drugs by decriminalization ... then educate ... educate ... educate everyone as to the dangers and damage of drug use.
If the war on drugs is so effective why is the US the world's most lucrative drug market? Canada has followed the same path in our treatment of addiction and is also being ravaged by the same results ... more and more criminal activity affecting more and more law bidding citizens. Time to try a new approach.
Posted by: GW | February 10, 2009 at 05:02 PM
To: Diana Dee
If your brother was scared of guys in his unit then maybe he should joined the girls scouts and NOT the US Military...
I would not feel safe with a coward like him...
Cpl. Garcia A.
U.S.MARINE CORPS.
Posted by: Mr.G | February 10, 2009 at 07:44 PM
It seems that "high and tight" extended to more than just their haircuts.
Posted by: Dean | February 10, 2009 at 08:21 PM
Where I live currently,
The Police are being investigated for drugs!
it seems that even our law inforcement is effected by the economy
The leaders of this Country need to wake up !
or Maybe they to are dealing in drugs?
Umm I seriously doubt it ! I am positive they get Fat paychecks !
So until they can balance out the Country econimically
they really shouldn't complain or be surprised when people
do things to make money that they otherwise wouldn't.
Life is about Survival ~ Many people will do what ever it takes
just to keep their family off the street and starving !
Just my thoughts !!
Posted by: Jen | February 15, 2009 at 03:53 AM
This had nothing to do with the military. When is someone going to hold the DA in San Diego responsible for this waste of our money?
Posted by: Bill A | July 06, 2009 at 02:14 AM