here is a story about it from where i live.
http://www.wftv.com/news/5199612/detail.html
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Drugs and thousands of dollars in cash were pulled from hidden compartments in luxury cars. Now, three Central Florida men are under arrest after the bust of a nationwide crime ring.
Federal investigators said this was not your average car dealership. DEA said drug traffickers could buy special luxury cars, specials because they were outfitted with hidden chambers to transport cocaine and millions in drug money. It was all part of a crime family called the Black Mafia Family.
"A national organization that we estimate has been distributing in excess of 2,000 kilograms of cocaine on a monthly basis throughout the United States," said Special Agent Stephen Collins.
Arrested in Central Florida were Marc Whaley, Doren Fiddler and Ezra Haynes. Agents said Whaley operated a car dealership that provided very high-end drug vehicles to members of the Black Mafia Family.
Nationwide, the bust includes 30 people, the seizure of $5 million in cash, and $5 million in cars and other assets.
"Essentially, cocaine was being stored and stashed in automobiles, that were obtained from Mr. Waley, in secret compartments throughout the vehicle and then cash was loaded back into it," explained Collins.
The two exotic car dealerships, one on Lee Road and the other on Old Winter Garden, were little more than fronts, according to drug agents.
"You could walk in there and rent an exotic car for a week or a month. That part of the business was very, very small. The majority of his business was to facilitate the organization's movement of money and cocaine," Collins said.
Agents are still trying to track down dozens of drug-running cars, along with two high-up members of the organization who remain at large, one man from Tampa and another from North Carolina.
Copyright 2005 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.wftv.com/news/5199612/detail.html
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Drugs and thousands of dollars in cash were pulled from hidden compartments in luxury cars. Now, three Central Florida men are under arrest after the bust of a nationwide crime ring.
Federal investigators said this was not your average car dealership. DEA said drug traffickers could buy special luxury cars, specials because they were outfitted with hidden chambers to transport cocaine and millions in drug money. It was all part of a crime family called the Black Mafia Family.
"A national organization that we estimate has been distributing in excess of 2,000 kilograms of cocaine on a monthly basis throughout the United States," said Special Agent Stephen Collins.
Arrested in Central Florida were Marc Whaley, Doren Fiddler and Ezra Haynes. Agents said Whaley operated a car dealership that provided very high-end drug vehicles to members of the Black Mafia Family.
Nationwide, the bust includes 30 people, the seizure of $5 million in cash, and $5 million in cars and other assets.
"Essentially, cocaine was being stored and stashed in automobiles, that were obtained from Mr. Waley, in secret compartments throughout the vehicle and then cash was loaded back into it," explained Collins.
The two exotic car dealerships, one on Lee Road and the other on Old Winter Garden, were little more than fronts, according to drug agents.
"You could walk in there and rent an exotic car for a week or a month. That part of the business was very, very small. The majority of his business was to facilitate the organization's movement of money and cocaine," Collins said.
Agents are still trying to track down dozens of drug-running cars, along with two high-up members of the organization who remain at large, one man from Tampa and another from North Carolina.
Copyright 2005 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
