| Mexico City, October 1, 2002. | Press Release N° 890/02 |
DISMANTLING OF A KETAMYNE PRODUCING ORGANIZATION WAS ACHIEVED
- Two of the organization's main leaders were located in Panama and put at the disposal of U.S. authorities where they have arrest orders- They offered the substance through Internet web sites, telephone numbers and addresses to contact distributors in Mexico.As a result of information exchange and mutual legal assistance agreements between the General Attorneys Office and other law enforcement authorities abroad, the Specialized Unit against Organized Crime (UEDO), participated in the dismantling operative of an organization dedicated to the production and distribution of a psychotropic substance known as Ketamyne.
After receiving a collaboration request from American authorities UEDO initiated investigations that ended in several operatives in the States of Baja California, Morelos and Mexico City.
Jorge Chevreuil Bravo, owner of a store named Granero de Oro in Tijuana, Baja California and José Francisco Molina Alvarado, owner of the Tokyo Laboratories in the State of Morelos, lead the organization that operated since 1999 in the packaging and distribution of the substance within bottles of ten and fifty milliliters.
Investigations revealed that together, Chevreuil Bravo and Molina Alvarado have sent several quantities of the substance to the U.S. which was produced at the laboratories in order to cover the increasing demand in that country.
At the present time the commercial value of a 10 ml. bottle in the U.S. varies between 50 and 100 dollars. The organization managed a web site where they offered the substance and also used telephone numbers and addresses to contact distributors in Mexico.
As a result of the operatives carried out at the "El Grano de Oro" store within the Plaza Hermosa mall in Tijuana, documents with the name of Ernesto Chevreuil Bravo were found and around 700 boxes contining bottles with the substance.
Furthermore, at the address of Segunda Street and Benito Juárez number 7014 in the downtown area, 400 more boxes were found with the substance.
In the State of Morelos, ministerial personnel searched within the Ttokkyo laboratories where they found and secured 70 bottles of 10 and 50 ml. with the substance as well as 440 kilos of the active substance within 18 barrels ready to be processed.
In Mexico City, at the Farallón Street number 205, Jardines del Pedregal neighborhood, authorities confiscated a 38 special caliber gun, 12 rounds of ammunition and documents. At the Tijuana Street number 10, interiors 601 and 602 in the Del Valle neighborhood, the administrative offices of the laboratories were searched.
All searches were carried out by Federal Public Ministry Agents with support from AFI agents and experts.
Mexicans Chevreuil Bravo and Molina Alvarado were located in Panama where authorities deported them through Miami. As they entered the United States they were arrested since a judge in that country had issued arrest orders against them.
