The sweeping undercover drug operation that traced more than $100,000 worth of drugs and cash to fraternity and student houses on and around San Diego State campus Tuesday may have been linked to the Tijuana cartel through pre-health science student Omar Castaneda, a member of the South Side Pomona gang.
Damon Mosler, chief of the Narcotics Division of the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, said that Castaneda, who has a prior conviction for the sale of narcotics, received his supply of drugs from Mexico and members of the cartel.
"Castaneda was involved in drug trafficking at the highest level that we've ever seen on a university campus," Mosler said. "His source of supply of the cocaine comes from Mexico. The cartel is responsible for smuggling most of the cocaine from Columbia through our border here in San Diego."
Jesse Navarro, a public affairs officer from the district attorney's office, said the number of Hispanics actually involved is very minimal.
"I believe there were only two or three Hispanics of the people arrested involved in this organization," Navarro said in Spanish. "We wanted to send a loud and clear message that this is a problem with shared responsibility on both sides of the border."
After pleading not guilty yesterday in Superior Court, Castaneda was held on $150,000 bail by Judge Frederick Maguire. Castaneda served three years for his prior drug conviction.
"Castaneda is a documented gang member and suspected cocaine supplier," Mosler said. "He was one of the main sources of supply for some of the dealers on the San Diego State campus."
When agents searched Castaneda's home they found 1 kilogram of cocaine, Mosler said. "Castaneda was arrested with a whole kilo of cocaine in his home, which is the most cocaine ever found in a campus drug raid," Mosler said.
The largest campus drug bust ever in San Diego County, police officers seized four pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana and 350 ecstasy pills, as well as cash and weapons during Operation Sudden Fall. They also confiscated semi-automatic weapons, shotguns, and a rifle on Tuesday while arresting 18 students along with 15 others last week.
The operation was a joint effort between University Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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