DEA MOVES AGAINST KEYS DRUG RINGS

Officer Is Among Four Arrested; Five Sought

KEY WEST -- In a move reminiscent of the drug dragnets on this island
decades ago, federal agents swept through Key West on Thursday evening,
hunting for nine people believed responsible for two cocaine-smuggling
rings. Four people were arrested -- including a Key West police officer --
and agents were hunting for five others -- including the officer's mother
and brother.

Federal officials said the two rings were led by Christopher Monticello,
23, and another man they wouldn't identify. He and his mother, Martha
Monticello, 49, were being sought by authorities to face drug charges.

Frank Monticello, Christopher's brother, had been a corrections officer at
the Monroe County Jail and joined the Key West force on March 31.
Monticello was called into the chief's office Thursday and arrested while
in uniform and taken to the jail in handcuffs.

Agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the
Monroe County Sheriff's Office began the roundup -- nicknamed ``Operation
Conch Supply'' -- Thursday evening. Authorities said the rings distributed
20 kilograms of cocaine each month throughout South Florida, Tampa and
Mobile, Ala.

Also arrested were:

Andrew Hetu, 23, of Key West, owner of Andy's Scooters on North Roosevelt
Boulevard.

Alberto Blasco, 34, of Key West, a garbage truck driver.

David Blasco, 34, of Key West.

Others being sought by police were:

Omar Perez, 28, of Key West.

Casey McDonald, 22, of Key West.

Daniel Brown, 39, of Key West.

Those arrested face charges of conspiracy with intent to possess and
distribute cocaine. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in
prison.

The investigation had taken six months, said Sheriff Richard Roth. Because
Key West is a small town of only 30,000, the two cocaine rings were aware
of each other and even had deals with each other, Roth said.

``It's not over yet,'' said DEA agent Sandy Gonzalez. ``This is a
significant case in the dismantling of a distribution organization.''

The news of locally based cocaine-smuggling rings -- with alleged
involvement by a Key West police officer -- brought back ugly memories of
the 1970s and 1980s, when top-ranking city officers in the fire and police
departments were convicted of taking part in the smuggling trade.

In the '70s, Fire Chief Joseph ``Bum'' Farto was convicted on smuggling
charges and fled before sentencing. He was never found.

In the 1980s, federal prosecutors convicted the deputy police chief and two
veteran officers of taking bribes and protecting a drug ring. A witness
testified he delivered cocaine to the police department in bags from Burger
King and boxes from Chicken Unlimited. The chief was named an unindicted
co-conspirator.

The federal prosecutor in those cases was Patrick Sullivan, who will also
prosecute the cases announced Thursday.

The arrests come just four days into the administration of a new Key West
police chief, Gordon ``Buz'' Dillon, who assumed the role of the island's
top law enforcement officer on Monday. Dillon was credited with rebuilding
his previous department in Georgia after officers there were arrested.