FATHER, SON FACE SMUGGLING CHARGES

Police Uncover 17 Pounds Of Heroin In Truck

After one of the largest heroin seizures ever in Santa Clara County,
prosecutors charged a father and son Wednesday with smuggling 17 pounds of
Mexican black tar heroin with an estimated street value of $3 million.

"Seventeen pounds is incredibly significant," said Deputy District Attorney
Robert Baker. "It's almost impossible to buy more than a pound of heroin at
a time, because heroin dealers are very careful."

Alejandro Reyna Vega, 41, and his son, Alejandro Reyna Sanchez, 19, of San
Mateo, were stopped Monday evening by the California Highway Patrol for
speeding at 80 mph while driving west on Highway 152, just west of Casa de
Fruta.

During the stop, the officer became suspicious and asked to search their
truck, which was taken to the Gilroy CHP office. There, authorities
discovered the heroin concealed between the engine block and intake manifold
of the 1993 Ford F150.

The heroin had been wrapped in plastic, then placed in a V-shaped metal
container. The heat of the engine had melted the heroin into three blocks,
Baker said.

"It was a very sophisticated drug-smuggling operation," said Baker, who
classified the pair as major drug dealers, given the quantity and manner in
which the heroin was transported.

Baker believed the heroin originated from Michoacan, Mexico, the source for
most of the black tar heroin smuggled from that country. Vega had crossed
into Mexico on Aug. 28, and had crossed back Monday through San Ysidro,
where he was pulled over by U.S. Customs. At that time, the truck somehow
passed inspection, Baker said.

Vega is to be arraigned today in San Martin on charges of transporting
heroin from San Diego to Santa Clara County, while Sanchez will face charges
of possession of heroin to sell. The suspects are being held on $1 million
bail each.

Contact Sandra Gonzales at sgonzales@sjmercury.com or (408) 295-3983.