S.F. MAN HELD FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

Informant's Tip Led To Arrest Of Alleged Courier For Heroin Ring

An informant's tip has resulted in federal drug trafficking charges against
a 19-year-old San Francisco man who allegedly worked as a drug courier for a
black tar heroin ring.

A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Friday
charges Francisco Birrueta with possessing more than 100 grams of heroin for
sale.

Birrueta, who was arrested in San Francisco in late March carrying nearly
two pounds of black tar heroin ready for sale in golf-ball-shaped blobs, is
a deportee who allegedly re-entered the United States unlawfully. He is
scheduled to appear before federal Magistrate Judge Bernard Zimmerman in
connection with the charges on Monday.

If convicted, Birrueta could receive a 10-year-to-life prison sentence and
be fined up to $4 million.

According to an affidavit by San Francisco Police Inspector Dean Marcic that
was filed with the federal charges, Birrueta was arrested by San Francisco
narcotics officers investigating an informer's tip that a man driving a blue
compact car with a specific California license plate number was peddling
heroin in San Francisco's Mission
District.

When investigators checked into the tip, they spotted a car that matched the
informant's description near 14th and Folsom streets.

Narcotics officers followed the car and saw a pedestrian get in a couple of
blocks away. They watched as the driver and passenger appeared to engage in
a narcotics transaction.

When the passenger got out of the vehicle near Duboce and Folsom streets, he
was arrested carrying a plastic bag containing seven grams of heroin that he
admitted buying from the blue car's driver. Investigators later identified
the buyer as Javier Aparacio, a San Francisco resident with five prior drug
arrests and two convictions, according to the affidavit.

Meanwhile, another group of investigators continued to follow the blue
compact, and pulled the driver over a short distance from Mission Police
Station on Valencia Street.

The driver of the vehicle was Birrueta, who was allegedly holding a plastic
bag with more than 20 grams of heroin in his hand and had another 780 grams
of the drug -- rolled into salable balls -- in a white plastic bag under his
seat.

In addition to the drugs, officers allegedly found $2,310 in cash, the
apparent revenue from previous drug transactions, in Birrueta's jacket pocket.

During an interview at Mission Station, Aparacio told officers that he had
phoned a contact seeking heroin for sale and had been told to meet the
driver of the car at 12th and Folsom streets, the affidavit said. He
admitted purchasing a quarter-ounce of the drug from Birrueta for $150.

Birrueta refused to talk with investigators.