THREE-COUNTY RAID REVEALS HUGE PLAN FOR MAKING DRUGS

Massive police raids in San Jose, East Palo Alto and the Modesto area have
crippled a major methamphetamine organization capable of producing as much
as $300 million worth of the drug, authorities said Wednesday.

Starting early Wednesday, more than 150 officers from the San Jose Police
Department, the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and 12 other law
enforcement agencies searched 10 sites, half of them in San Jose.

Officers arrested five people on suspicion of conspiracy to manufacture
methamphetamine, dismantled two working laboratories and seized vehicles
and chemicals related to the case.

Authorities are still seeking one man in connection with the alleged ring.

``In the short term, (the operation) will disrupt the flow of
methamphetamine in San Jose,'' said San Jose police Sgt. Chris Moore.

The operation's roots date back to November, when authorities noted
suspicious purchases of chemicals used to make methamphetamine. Officers
found evidence that the group purchased $2.1 million worth of chemicals,
enough to make $300 million of the drug, according to court records.

No one was hurt in Wednesday's raids, Moore said. The police spokesman
added that officers found two labs, one in Modesto and one in the nearby
Stanislaus County town of Patterson.

Booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy to produce
methamphetamine were Ernesto Plancarte, 42; Diego Tonatiuh Ortiz, 24; Jose
Cisneros Felix, 23; and Abel Rodriguez Gamboa, 29. Plancarte is from East
Palo Alto; the other three are San Jose residents. Bail for each has been
set at $400,000.

A fifth suspect, 26-year-old Oswaldo Becerril of San Jose, was taken into
custody in Denver and is awaiting extradition to California. His bail also
is set at $400,000.

Police have a warrant for the arrest of Julio Cesar Chavez, a 28-year-old
Modesto resident. Chavez is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and has
black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Chavez's whereabouts or other aspects of the
case is asked to call task force Agent Mike Maskarich at (408) 452-7360.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at (408)
947-STOP.