Los Angeles:On April 7, just five hours after the Los Angeles City Attorneyannounced the latest gang injunction aimed at gang-affiliated drugdealers in Skidrow, narcotics detectives arrested two men fortransporting 60 pounds of marijuana to downtown Los Angeles.
Thismarijuana was destined for Skidrow, said Lt. Paul Vernon, commandingofficer of the Central Detective Division. Its both ironic andtragic that the countys largest recovery area is also the regionsbiggest drug bazaar.
Narcotics detectives received an anonymous tip that a large shipment ofmarijuana was being delivered by men in a gray Ford Escort. Detectivesset up near the parking lot of the Bunker Hill Tower apartments at 234S. Figueroa Street. Around 4PM, the expected gray car drove up withthree men inside.
It didnt take the detectives long to realize they had the right car,Lt. Vernon explained. There was so much weed in the car, they couldsmell it when they approached the drivers window.
Detectives arrested the unlicensed driver, Hector Cabrera, 33, and thefront passenger Fernando Padilla, 38, for transporting over 50 poundsof marijuana. Bail for that charge was $100,000. Cabreras bail wasincreased by $40,000 due to an arrest warrant for drunk driving, andPadillas bail was increased due to a $5,000 arrest warrant formarijuana possession. An adult passenger in the backseat wasquestioned and released.
Cabrera lives in Riverside, and Padilla lives in Big Bear, California. This arrest is another example of commuter drug dealing downtown, Lt.Vernon said. And thats the point of the new Skidrow injunctionagainst drug dealers; its outsiders who are bringing the drugs intothis recovery area.
The wholesale value of the 60 pounds of marijuana is estimated at$24,000. And that translates into more than 27,000 nickel bags andmore than $100,000 in profit for the Skidrow drug dealers,
Lt. Vernon explained. Think what a detriment that would be to recovering addicts.
The marijuana was tightly wrapped in packages, each weighing a littlemore than one pound. The packages were stacked into cardboard boxes.
Neither of the arrestees was among the 80 named drug dealers in the injunction announced the same day.
The public is urged to report information about illicit drugactivities. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads)with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the lettersLAPD. Online tips may be placed at official website of THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, click onwebtips and follow the prompts.