Bob_Tarlau's Blog

We're running a story on our Thursday (Feb 28) Fox 11 10PM newscast that I want to call to your attention. It concerns a ten-month Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation – using dozens of wiretaps – that resulted in the busting of a major narcotics trafficking ring that had been based in Orange County.

Phil Shuman reports and takes you behind the scenes of the planning and execution of one of 11 simultaneous raids done by the DEA – assisted by state and local police. You will only see this story on Fox 11. The photography is by Ken Moore, and the piece was edited by Debbie Kim.

Our story goes beyond the significance of the busting of this drug ring – an operation that, over all, seized millions in cold, hard cash along with package after package of cocaine and methamphetamine. I say that because the DEA considers this just one of many enforcement success stories, as it tries to choke off the illegal drug flow.

Here’s a startling statistic: Timothy J. Landrum, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, told Phil, Ken and me that Americans are now spending 65 billion dollars a year on illicit drugs. So for the bad guys, it’s all about the money. Landrum says: “That is the root of all the evil, the money. That’s what it’s all about.”

As you will see in the report, 60 pounds of high-quality crystal meth was found at the “stash house” in Fullerton. If it actually got to the street, this stuff would have sold for $2 million. Jon Goldberg, assistant Special Agent in Charge, told us at the scene: “The drugs were found in a bedroom right next to four sleeping children, ranging from two years old to 10 years old.”

The DEA is a fascinating organization that doesn’t get as much publicity as some of the other federal law enforcement branches. But it’s huge, with 227 domestic offices in 21 Divisions throughout the U.S. and 86 Foreign Offices in 62 countries. And Landrum says the DEA is making a big difference in a big fight. In his words: “If we can save one life and keep one person from becoming addicted or overdosing, we’ve succeeded.” Personally, I can relate to that. I’ve felt the same way about the many drug education stories Fox 11 has done over the years – especially in regards to methamphetamine. You never know if the anti-message is getting across. Hopefully it is and just maybe, somewhere out there, we’ve saved a life or two. That’s actually my fondest hope as a journalist—that whatever issue we address in depth, we are making a difference.

So a reminder to please our DEA drug bust story on Thursday evening at 10PM on the Fox 11 News.

Cheers, Bob