Seizure of 20 Gallons of PCP in Hawthorne, California
Joint Investigation Results in Arrests and Seizure of Drugs and Cash

JUL 10 -- LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Orange County Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, working with the Orange County Proactive Methamphetamine Laboratory Investigative Task Force (PROACT) and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE) arrested two individuals associated with a PCP distribution ring operating in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 20 gallons of PCP, firearms and large quantities of U.S. Currency.

On July 6, 2006, agents seized 20 gallons of PCP from an apartment in Hawthorne, California. The PCP had an estimated street value of more than $25,000,000.00 and was enough for more than 750,000 individual uses of the drug.

“This seizure has removed a tremendous quantity of PCP from our streets. By working with our state and local counterparts we have been able to stop these insidious drugs from entering our communities,” said Ralph W. Partridge, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Division of DEA.

Arrested early this morning were, Taylor Wright, 38 years old, from Compton; and Clifford Oliver, 36 years old, of Los Angeles. Both are charged with Conspiracy to Manufacture, Possess with Intent to Distribute, and Distribution of Phencyclidine “PCP”, a schedule II controlled substance, and Possession with Intent to Distribute PCP in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.

The arrested individuals will be prosecuted in Federal Court by the Los Angeles Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Further information will be disseminated to press outlets when available for release. Please forward any questions to DEA Los Angeles Public Information Officer Sarah Pullen at (213) 621-6827.