Aptos: Three members of MS-13 street gang arrested in Aptos 4-23-09

Sting nets large meth bust in Aptos
Modified: Saturday, Apr 25th, 2009
BY: PETER SEGALL

Photos courtesy of the Santa Cruz Police Department

“More than three pounds of methamphetamine and a stolen handgun were seized and three suspects were arrested by members of the Santa Cruz Police Department in a joint gang/drug sting in Aptos on Wednesday.

Steve Clark of the Santa Cruz Police Department said this was a “significant amount” of the drug and that someone capable of obtaining this quantity was most likely “well-established in the network.”

The arrests were made after members of SCPDâ€s Street Crimes Unit worked in collaboration with the Fresno County Sheriffâ€s Office Narcotics Unit to purchase the drugs in Aptos from men identified as members of the Mara Salvatrucha “MS-13” street gang, according to a press release from SCPD.

The drugs were estimated at a wholesale value of $42,000. When sold on the street, police estimate that amount could double. Local law enforcement has taken notice of the increasing amount of gangs using drug trafficking as a means of support. A seizure of this size represents to officers that individuals are dealing in large quantities.

The three suspects, Pedro Escobar, 22, German Escobar, 23, and Jose Callejas-Alfaro, 29, all Santa Cruz residents, were each charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale, conspiracy to commit a crime, and gang enhancements, police said. German Escobar and Callejas-Alfaro were also charged with resisting arrest. German Escobar was additionally charged with possession of a stolen, loaded handgun, which he tried to discard while attempting to flee, police said. The handgun was reported stolen out of Wilkesboro, N.C.
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For the complete article see the 04-25-2009 issue.