DeTomaso Mailing List: September 99, Message #27

            The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office today
announced the arrest of two men for
            drug smuggling in what may be one of the biggest heroin busts in
the history of the county.
            Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker says Alejandro Vega, 41, and
his son, Alejandro Sanchez,
            19, both of San Mateo, were arrested this morning for smuggling
17 pounds of heroin from
            Mexico into the county. The pair were stopped by the California
Highway Patrol on state
            Highway 152, west of Casa de Fruita, when officers spotted
Vega's Ford pick-up speeding in
            the westbound lanes. A search by officers located the heroin in
the engine block of the truck.
            It is estimated to be worth more than $250,000. Baker says Vega
was stopped by border patrol
            agents in San Diego County last night as he entered the country
from Mexico and they did an
            extensive search of the truck, but they were not able to find
the heroin.

            He says hiding drugs in the engine block is the sign of very
sophisticated smugglers.


I wonder how the CHP found this in a roadside check ?
Officer:  "I've stopped you for speeding, may I take your engine apart ?"

And the truck was speeding ?  17 pounds must have taken at least two
cylinders,
or displaced a LOT of oil space  !


Charles Melton