Details are emerging of one of the largest narcotics busts ever in the Bay Area, as a staggering amount of drugs were seized along with some heavy-duty weaponry.
U.S. Attorney David Anderson said Thursday 44 people of been charged as part of Operation Burnt Orange in federal court with drug, weapons and conspiracy counts in the alleged Mexico-to-San Jose operation. It's one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in the history of the Northern District of California.
The seizures include an estimated 500 grams of fentanyl, 20 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of heroin, more than a dozen firearms, over $200,000 in cash and more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine.
“I want to explain with 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine is. It’s approximately 80 million doses," said Daniel Comeaux, special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The alleged smuggling conspiracy involved grenade launchers and 50 caliber sniper rifles trafficked through Nogales, Arizona.
Busts went down in Newark, Mountain View, San Jose, Santa Clara, San Mateo.
The largest operation took place January 27 in Sunnyvale, according to agents. Agents seized 11 firearms and 572 pounds of methamphetamine.
Also Thursday, Anderson announced his resignation, effective later this month, as top federal prosecutor in San Francisco. The move is a relatively routine changing of the guard with a new administration in Washington, D.C.
Related
