CHICAGO GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED IN DRUG CRACKDOWN

47 members charged, 30 arrested; officials say drug ring sold deadly
fentanyl-laced heroin

CHICAGO -- Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged more than three
dozen members of a Chicago street gang with running a drug ring that
sold crack cocaine, marijuana, heroin and the potentially lethal
prescription painkiller fentanyl.

Fentanyl-laced heroin has been blamed for more than 200
overdose-related deaths across the eastern half of the country in
recent months, at least 70 of them in the Chicago area. But while
much of the fentanyl seized in the investigation was packaged for
individual use, none of the seized heroin was found to be mixed with
fentanyl, authorities said. The legally produced painkiller is 80
times stronger than morphine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Shapiro
alleged that the gang marketed its drugs to take advantage of the
deadly heroin's notoriety, selling products with names such as "Max
Pain," "Lethal Injection," "Fear Factor," "Drop Dead" and "Final
Call." He said none of the defendants had been charged in any of the
fentanyl deaths. In a series of raids Wednesday, agents seized more
than 100 kilograms of heroin, five firearms, four vehicles and an
undetermined amount of cash, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration. More than 400 federal and local law enforcement
officers were involved. The criminal complaint Wednesday charges 47
members and associates of the Mickey Cobras gang. By early afternoon,
30 people had been arrested, including a Chicago police officer.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said many of the arrests took place
at the Dearborn Homes public housing complex, a Mickey Cobras
stronghold a few miles south of the Loop, but that the drug ring
extended to nearby states.