Drug Raids Corral "Major Oakland Drug Dealers"

Drug Raids Corral Alleged Major Oakland Dealers

POSTED: 9:20 am PDT October 24, 2007
UPDATED: 1:36 pm PDT October 24, 2007


OAKLAND -- Federal, local and state enforcement officers launched a series of raids throughout Northern California Wednesday, arresting at least 20 alleged drug dealers on charges they were distributing large amounts of tar heroin and cocaine in a network that stretched into the Central Valley.

Deputy Oakland Police Chief David Kozicki said the raids at 38 locations including homes in East Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward and in three sites in the Central Valley had crippled a network involved in crimes including murder and gang violence.

"We consider this a very successful operation," Kozicki said. "A lot of work went into this. It was a like building a Swiss watch…we are proud of the fact that it went off without a hitch…No one was injured."

The raids, Kozicki said, targeted some of the area's most notorious dealers.

"These are major heroin and cocaine dealers," he said. "They are what are known as 'weight dealers' in the City Of Oakland…We anticipate this will make a significant dent in our narcotics and narcotics-related violence problems."

Called Operation "Piece Out," the investigation had been underway for nearly two years and involved local and federal agents. Those arrested were being held on a variety of charges, Kozicki said, both state and federal.

"We have our homicide investigators involved in talking with some of the people arrested," he said. "We feel they may be involved in some of our recent homicides and narcotics-related violence."

Agents seized "firearms, cash and narcotics" during the raids. A number of children were also taken into care by Child Protective Services, Kozicki said.

Authorities said the case was ongoing and more searches and arrests were possible.
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