Feds hit suspected heroin, meth ring in San Antonio; 40 arrested

Mike Flores Jr. seen in a mugshot after a state arrest in 2013. Court records show Flores was arrested Aug. 3 after he allegedly bought a kilogram of cocaine from Pedro Requejo Gutierrez, 68, and crashed while fleeing from agents. less Mike Flores Jr. seen in a mugshot after a state arrest in 2013. Court records show Flores was arrested Aug. 3 after he allegedly bought a kilogram of cocaine from Pedro Requejo Gutierrez, 68, and crashed while ... more Photo: Bexar County Photo: Bexar County Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Feds hit suspected heroin, meth ring in San Antonio; 40 arrested 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Area authorities raided several locations in and around San Antonio on Wednesday morning, going after members of a ring suspected of distributing large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine.

“This is the culmination of a five-month effort by (the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) and the Texas Department of Public Safety targeting heroin and methamphetamine trafficking,” said Wendell Campbell, a spokesman for the DEA. “It’s been a very active case; 40 arrests have been made.”

Officials focused on 15 of the remaining suspects during Wednesday’s operation. The San Antonio Express-News confirmed SWAT teams hit homes that included one in the 1100 block of Gibbs Street on the East Side, another in the 2800 block of Longmeadow Drive on the Southwest Side and at least one near Old Pearsall Road and Loop 410. Most of the 40 already had been arrested on federal and state charges as the investigation progressed, Campbell said.

Besides making seizures of heroin and meth, guns and cash during the investigation, agents also raided a meth conversion lab in June at an apartment complex on Huebner Road.

Conversion labs are not typical labs where meth is made. Instead, officials say, the drug is kept in liquid form — the new way for Mexican drug cartels to smuggle it into the United States. Often it’s hidden in vehicle parts that would already have liquid, like gas tanks, or in some other solution.

The conversion labs serve to separate the meth from the solution by using containers like gallon-size Thermos containers and pouring the solution into plastic storage tubs until the meth crystalizes, the DEA said.

Records show the investigation is tied to an indictment last week that included Mike Flores Jr., 45, who served time for a 2004 drug conviction after San Antonio police raided his home and found drugs, cash and even one of their own officers at the scene.

That now-former officer, Enrique Hinojosa, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Flores and others in the drug operations, records show.

In the latest case, Flores is listed as the lead defendant of 14 suspects accused of dealing heroin who were indicted last week. Court records in that case show Flores was arrested Aug. 3 after he allegedly bought a kilogram of heroin from Pedro Requejo Gutierrez, 68, and crashed while fleeing from agents.

Also indicted in the case is Requejo’s brother Genaro Requejo, 60, who was arrested July 26 during a traffic stop in which DPS officers reported finding 250 grams of heroin in his car. Genaro Requejo reportedly told officers he had paid $11,500 for the heroin.

As part of the investigation, agents raided an apartment June 2 in the 11000 block of Huebner Road and seized 1 kilogram of heroin and 5 gallons of meth solution. The solution would make about 15 pounds of crystal meth when separated, according to the DEA.

Court records identify three suspects arrested on federal charges in connection with the conversion lab: Christian Gallegos, Yoan Lloya Morales and Larry Ozuna. They were among 11 defendants indicted June 21 on charges of trafficking heroin and meth, records show.

A judge ordered those arrested Wednesday to be held pending bail hearings in the coming weeks.

gcontreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland