LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement officials on Wednesday arrested 20 suspects who are allegedly involved in the manufacture and distribution of PCP, according to federal prosecutors.
The 20 individuals were named in two federal indictments and are linked to criminal street gangs – the Grape Street Crips and other South Los Angeles street gangs
Phencyclidine – commonly known as PCP or “angel dust” – is a dangerous narcotic.
“Historically, the principal location in the United States where PCP is manufactured is the Southern California area,” according to the indictment unsealed today. “After PCP is manufactured, PCP traffickers typically distribute and transport PCP both within the Southern California area and to other regions in the United States, where PCP can be sold at higher prices and for greater profit.”
In addition to the 20 people arrested this morning, federal officials said three defendants were already in custody, and 17 are fugitives or have not yet been fully identified.
A total of 40 suspects were named in the two indictments.
“PCP producers and suppliers deal a toxic poison that destroys minds and contaminates our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Today’s operation breaks the grip that these drug makers and dealers have held on the neighborhoods of Watts and South Los Angeles by targeting the highest levels of PCP traffickers and those responsible for manufacture and distribution of this deadly drug.”
Several PCP laboratories were seized, according to the indictment. Also authorities detail in the indictments how members of the narcotics-trafficking conspiracy distributed up to several thousand gallons of PCP.
Investigators discovered that this network routinely delivered PCP, via couriers and mail, to other parts of the country, including Texas, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma and New York.
The master mind of the narcotics trafficking conspiracy was Anthony Dwight Bracken, a San Bernardino County-based PCP manufacturer, with strong ties to South Los Angeles.
Other key players charged in the conspiracy include distributors Andre Brown, Anthony Wilson and Eligin Gary Hawkins, all of South Los Angeles.
During the course of this investigation, authorities said they seized about 100 gallons of the drug and precursor chemicals that could have been used to manufacture thousands of gallons of the drug.
A gallon of PCP contains approximately 76,800 doses of the highly addictive narcotic.
In conjunction with this morning’s multi-agency effort involving federal, state and local law enforcement officers against the Grape Street Crips, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that his office will seek injunctions to curb gang activity at three properties, two of which are located on the same block of an early education center and an elementary school.
The properties are known for gang-related narcotics dealing, PCP manufacturing, possession of firearms and other criminal activity, according to the City Attorney’s office.
The indictments unsealed today follow an investigation that concluded nearly six years ago after targeting PCP trafficking in South Los Angeles and illuminating the links between the drug and the Grape Street Crips, according to officials.
That earlier investigation resulted in federal charges against 12 defendants, two of whom received life sentences for their roles in manufacturing and distributing PCP.