CHICAGO — The feds have hit a major blow to drug trafficking, seizing over 190 kilograms of heroin and charging 19 defendants in a massive bust. At the heart of this investigation is JULIO CESAR FLORES SAENZ, 29, of Hanover Park, whose residence was the site of an 80-kilogram heroin seizure.
Operation Over the Top spanned over a year, with authorities uncovering a drug stash house in Bensenville and removing 85 kilograms of drugs from warehouses in St. Charles and Sugar Grove, as well as a vacant lot on Chicago’s West Side.
The investigation relied heavily on wiretaps, undercover operations, and surveillance. Flores Saenz was arrested earlier this month with the heroin, which he allegedly distributed to RAMON GARCIA, 30, of Riverside, Calif., and VICTOR MANUEL VAZQUEZ-MORALES, 33, of Philadelphia, Penn.
NOEL MIRANDA, 36, of Chicago, was charged for selling a kilogram of heroin outside the Ford City Mall in December 2016. His cousin, LUIS MIRANDA, 30, who was arrested last month with heroin in his possession, is also implicated.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joel R. Levin praised the teamwork behind the investigation: ‘This is an example of the extraordinary determination and cooperation among our law enforcement partners. Our office remains committed to halting the stream of dangerous narcotics into our communities.’
The DEA’s Dennis A. Wichern echoed this sentiment, stating that ‘too many lives are lost to heroin, and too many families scarred. We will continue to target criminal enterprises that threaten public safety.’
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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