SAN FRANCISCO—Authorities arrested more than 16 individuals in connection to a major drug bust on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.   Various agencies participated in the raids including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Oakland Police Department, San Francisco Police Officers and several other agencies. They had been working on this case for more two years.   The bulk of the drugs involved in this case were ecstasy and marijuana.  

All of the raids occurred simultaneously at around 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.   Authorities raided several cities in the Bay Area which included Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Crescent City and Antioch. The drug bust even stretched to Denver, Colorado where more than 20 suspects were apprehended in connection to the drug distribution.   One of the places raided in Oakland was the Third Eye Lounge, a popular Asian restaurant located near International Blvd. between 19^th and 20^th Streets. DEA agents had to fight their way into the building by breaking through a metal gate. No one was at the residence at the time of the raid, but authorities did seize several pounds of marijuana from the building.  

Joseph Sadler of the FBI spoke to CBS5 reporter Anna Duckworth about the incident.   “In some cases like in this one, our case overlapped with Sacramento’s case, so at the point in time during the investigation you start realizing you’re overlapping with somebody, you always have to coordinate with them to ensure that what you do on your case doesn’t blow their case,” Sadler said. More than eight search warrants were issued with five of them taking place in Oakland. Three search warrants were issued in San Francisco.   Authorities did not indicate the quantity of drugs that were seized during the raids.  

One suspect did manage to escape authorities. The name of that suspect has yet to be released to the public. A vast majority of the suspects arrested in the drug bust were members of two Asian gangs, Hop Sing and Asian Pride. The suspects appeared in court on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 to be arraigned on charges that they could face for their involvement of the distribution of the drugs ecstasy and marijuana.   The suspects could face up to 40 years behind bars if they are found guilty.