570-plus pounds of crystal meth seized, 11 suspects arrested

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Federal prosecutors in San Francisco on Monday announced the arrest of 11 people in connection with one of the largest seizures of crystal methamphetamine in U.S. history –- a cache of more than 570 pounds with a street value of more than $6 million.

Also seized were more than $160,000 in cash, 10 firearms and seven automobiles, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California.

Of those arrested Friday, six face state charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a stolen firearm; the remaining five face federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine across California, distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit international money-laundering.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office said the federal indictment was unsealed Monday but had not yet been made publicly available, so the identities of the suspects and the locations of their arrests remained unclear. According to a statement, the federally indicted defendants face sentences of up to life in prison and millions of dollars in fines if convicted.

The case was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

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-- Lee Romney in San Francisco