SECOND DAY OF DRUG SEIZURES BRINGS HEROIN TOTAL TO 21 POUNDS

Federal agents arrested more suspects on Thursday in a major drug
trafficking case and said they had seized about 21 pounds of heroin
in what they termed was probably the second-largest single seizure of
the drug in Oregon history.

It was the second day of arrests by Drug Enforcement Administration
agents, who on Wednesday had picked up 31 people in Lane County for
their suspected involvement in what law enforcement officials called
a sophisticated and well-run import and distribution operation
targeting Oregon, Washington and California. advertisement

New information led agents to a Springfield house where they found 16
pounds of heroin and $8,000 in cash late Wednesday night.

They arrested a 23-year-old man at the house, and made a couple of
other related arrests at other locations on Thursday, bringing the
total number of suspects in custody to 34.

In addition to the 16 pounds of heroin found in Springfield, agents
had seized 1 pound on Wednesday and 4 pounds recovered during
undercover purchases for a total of 21 pounds, DEA spokesman Bernie
Hobson said.

He said he believed that state police had recovered a slightly larger
amount in a previous incident several years ago.

"That's a huge seizure," Hobson said.

Hobson said it was impossible to estimate the cash value of the drug.

Heroin is consumed in amounts of a gram or less. There are about 450
grams in a pound.

DEA investigators estimate that the operation was distributing 55
pounds of heroin a month in the southern Willamette Valley.

The agency did not release the names of any suspects on Thursday.

Hobson said several would appear in federal court today. He believed
that most of the suspects were being held at the Lane County Jail.

Officers from the Eugene, Springfield, Junction City and Cottage
Grove police departments; from Lane, Benton and Linn County sheriff's
offices; and from the Oregon State Police assisted in making the arrests.