7 ARRESTED IN BAY AREA DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION

A two-month investigation has led to the arrests of seven men believed to
be part of a drug ring that peddled heroin and methamphetamine in various
parts of the Bay Area, police said yesterday.

The investigation began in Santa Rosa, where a man known as ``Jorge'' sold
substantial quantities of heroin to undercover Santa Rosa detectives on
various occasions.

At one point, investigators learned that ``Jorge's'' source of heroin came
from the South Bay, according to a news release. Last Thursday, detectives
joined by Sonoma County sheriff's narcotics experts arranged to purchase
more than a half-pound of the heroin.

When the drug was delivered to the undercover police later that day, police
arrested ``Jorge,'' Francisco Villa-Prado, 24, of Santa Rosa, and his
partner, Hector Villa-Chavez, 28, of Redwood City and Milpitas.

Both men are charged with transportation and possession for sale of heroin.
Bail has been set at $500,000 each.

The pair led police to a location in Milpitas.

In Milpitas, Santa Rosa detectives were joined by Milpitas police and the
state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. They located a methamphetamine
laboratory, where they arrested Fedrico and Jose Villa, both 18, and
charged them with intent to manufacture dangerous drugs.

That pair led police to an individual in San Jose, where on Friday, police
arrested three men, Felix Valencia Nunez, 24, Marcelino Herrera Razon, 25,
and Mario Mendoza-Vega, 25, and charged them with possession of heroin for
sale and conspiracy to distribute heroin.

During the San Jose search, police seized a pound of heroin, packaging
materials and a loaded 9mm pistol. Heroin is normally sold at the street
level in gram or half-gram quantity. Police estimate the street value of
their total seizure may be as high as $60,000.

)1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A16