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Drug bust nets record amount of heroin

Bay City News Service
Saturday May 26, 2001

A year-long investigation into a suspected East Bay heroin smuggling and distribution ring has come to an end with 10 arrests and the Alameda County Narcotics Task Force’s largest heroin bust, said Lt. Paul Wallace. 

In total, the task force recovered 106 ounces of heroin, 2.5 ounces of cocaine, and 3.25 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $1.36 million. Also seized were $8,372 in cash.  

Wallace said the amount of heroin recovered is the largest in the task force's 12-year history. 

The seizure came following the execution of six search warrants on Thursday, which stretched from San Pablo to Hayward. Wallace said the biggest coup was the arrest of 35-year-old Felix Reyes of San Leandro, alleged ringleader of a suspected drug ring that included his brothers.  

Berkeley residents Millie Alcala, 32, Damaris Alcala, 36, and Salvadore Alcala, 33, daughters and son of Roberto Alcala, were also arrested, along with Jamie Chavez, 27, of San Pablo and Sergio Mendoza, 45, of Richmond. 

 

Angeja arranged for Roberto Marquez, a sheriff's detective, to buy heroin from Reyes, Wallace said. Marquez allegedly made eight undercover purchases, totaling some 20 ounces, over six months leading up to yesterday's arrest. 

Wallace said Marquez yesterday was going to pay $44,800 yesterday for 48 ounces of heroin, but negotiations broke down when Reyes tried to change the location of the transaction. 

The heroin was recovered from Jose Reyes' pickup truck near his Hayward home, Wallace said. A search of his apartment led to the seizure of more than a pound of heroin and another pound was found in a storage shed in Hayward rented by Felix Reyes, Wallace said. 

Also arrested in the day-long operation were Hippolita Beltran, 33, who is Jose Reyes' common law wife; and Roberto Alcala, 67, of San Pablo, who Wallace said was allegedly buying drugs from the Reyes brothers and selling it on the street. Berkeley residents Millie Alcala, 32, Damaris Alcala, 36, and Salvadore Alcala, 33, daughters and son of Roberto Alcala, were also arrested, along with Jamie Chavez, 27, of San Pablo and Sergio Mendoza, 45, of Richmond.  

The Reyes brothers, Beltran, Roberto Alcala and Jamie Chavez face federal drug trafficking charges, Wallace said, and the remaining suspects will be prosecuted at the state level.