A widespread methamphetamine-distribution network with ties to the La Familia-Surenos street gang has been broken up by Colorado Spring police and the FBI, officials said today.
Colorado Springs police said the organization is allegedly headed by 24-year-old Luis Angel Vega, who goes by the street name “Tricky.”
Beginning in March, detectives from the Colorado Springs Metro Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Unit began an investigation into methamphetamine distribution in the Colorado Springs area, quickly determining that the distributors were part of Vega’s organization, according to Lt. David Whitlock, spokesman for the department.
The narcotics and intelligence unit then collaborated with the FBI Southern Colorado Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force and began an operation coined, “Operation Jeez Luis.”
During the course of the investigation, at least 16 members or associates of the crime organization were identified as directly involved in methamphetamine distribution, Whitlock said.
Earlier this week, the eight-month investigation culminated with the execution of 12 search warrants in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo resulting in 15 arrests.
Seized were 815 grams of methamphetamine valued at $326,000; 16.2 grams of cocaine valued at $1,620; 974 grams of marijuana valued at $3,896 and 56.6 grams of mushrooms valued at $283.
Also confiscated were five firearms and $8,475.
Among the agencies executing the search warrants were the FBI, ATF and SWAT teams from El Paso and Teller counties as well as SWAT teams from the Colorado Springs and Pueblo police departments.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
