24 STUDENTS ARRESTED IN HOLLISTER DRUG STING

Two dozen San Benito High School students were arrested yesterday as
Hollister police and state drug agents broke up an on-campus drug ring.

The arrests were the result of a four-month undercover investigation
in which a female officer posed as a student and made 65 purchases of
marijuana, LSD, methamphetamine and cocaine. Video cameras and tape
recorders secretly recorded the transactions, authorities said.

In all, the unidentified undercover officer made purchases from 27
students at the high school and 10 nonstudent adults.

One of the buys from an adult was for 625 ``hits'' of LSD and led
officers to an Oakland location, where officers seized a large
quantity of LSD and 20 vials of the drug Ecstasy.

The drug investigation began months ago when school officials, acting
with permission from the school board, tipped off police about drug
dealing in the school, which has about 2,400 students.

A young-looking female officer was recruited from a police academy and
given intensive undercover narcotics training, including 80 hours with
the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement in Sacramento.

In the fall, she enrolled as a student at the school. Police said she
was offered drugs during her first week on campus.

The students arrested ranged in age from 14 to 20 years
old.