AGENCIES TEAM UP ON DRUG ARRESTS

Tampa - A Drug Task Force Announces It Has Begun Making 61 Arrests In
Cocaine Rings That Stretch From Miami To Tampa And Lakeland

Detectives say the suspected drug dealers strutted around Tampa like
the fighting roosters they admired.

For almost a year, the detectives worked countless hours to catch
them, watching apartment buildings and trendy bars and making
undercover buys.

Tuesday, the detectives - members of a special drug task force funded
with federal money - announced that they had begun rounding up 61
suspects from Miami to Lakeland and Tampa in what they called
Operation Gallo Frito.

Translation: Operation Fried Rooster.

As most of Tampa slept, detectives and special agents arrested 12
suspects in the city and Hillsborough County. By the end of the day,
they had another 16 in custody here, plus three more in Miami, two in
Sarasota and one in Orlando.

The investigation took a year, targeted three cocaine-dealing
organizations and led to the seizure of more than $125,000, 8 pounds
of cocaine and 18 cars.

Many of the alleged dealers were aficionados of cockfighting. Most
were charged with racketeering, cocaine trafficking and money laundering.

Detectives said the cocaine was intended not for dank-alley crack
deals but for yuppie clubs in Tampa and Carrollwood.

``This group distributed about 500 pounds of cocaine a year,'' said
task-force member Lt. Paul Davis of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's
Office. ``A lot of it came from Miami and was distributed up here.''

Davis said dealers worked in all amounts - from tiny vials to
kilograms.

Beyond the cars, weapons and cash, the investigators seemed most
pleased about working with sister agencies in the task force - called
a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.

``HIDTA brings more money to the table for all of us,'' said Special
Agent Bob Michelotti of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Davis said the arrests will have a major impact on drug users in the
form of higher costs and worry about future arrests.

He said each of those arrested will be interviewed and whatever
information they provide will be passed on to street detectives.

The local head of distribution was Luis Alfredo Vargas of 5020 N.
Habana Ave., said Tampa police Detective Gary Russ. Vargas was being
held at a Hillsborough County jail with bail set at $15,000.