OPERATION SUDDEN FALL

Worst Game of Pictionary Ever

We're not in Baltimore anymore, Toto.

A few miles away, the DEA just arrested 75 San Diego State University students and 21 others in conjunction with "Operation Sudden Fall," a major undercover investigation several months in the making. Several of the drug busts resulted from search warrants executed at multiple SDSU fraternities.

According to the DEA's press release:

DEA Agents infiltrated several student drug distribution cells and more than 130 drug purchases and seizures were made during the five-month operation."

As a result of the investigation, 75 SDSU students and 21 non-students have been arrested for various drug offenses ranging from possession of marijuana and cocaine to sales of cocaine. One student arrested was a cocaine dealer on campus who was just one month away from obtaining his Masters Degree in Homeland Security and also worked as a student Community Service Officer on campus and reported to the campus police. Another student arrested for possession of 500 grams of cocaine and two guns is a Criminal Justice major.

...

In one instance a member of the Theta Chi fraternity sent out a mass text message to his “faithful customers” stating that he and his “associates” would be traveling to Las Vegas for the weekend and would not be able to complete cocaine sales during that time. He noted that they were having a “sale” on cocaine and listed the reduced prices.

Evidence seized includes four pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana, 48 hydroponic marijuana plants, 350 ecstasy pills, psilocybin (mushrooms), 30 vials of hash oil, methamphetamine, various illicit prescription drugs, one shotgun, three semi-automatic pistols, three brass knuckles and $60,000 in cash.

At this point in the blog post, you might expect me to rant about the hundreds of thousands of tax dollars wasted on a senseless war on drugs that will result in the pointless incarceration of dozens of talented college students.

But to be honest -- and I know I'm going to invite the wrath of many for saying this -- part of me finds this a refreshing shift in focus for local law enforcement.

A 2002 study of narcotics search warrants issued in San Diego found serious racial disparities. African Americans only make up 6% of the county population, but were the subjects of search warrants in 20% of the cases. Chicano/Latinos, who make up 24% of the population, were search warrant subjects in 43% of the cases. Whites, who account for 61% of the population, were subjects of search warrants in only 35% of the cases. (Source: Laurence A. Benner, Racial Disparity in Narcotics Search Warrants, 6 J. Gender Race & Just. 183 (2002)).

I have no idea the racial breakdown of the arrested, but a quick scan of Theta Chi's website suggests that this drug bust is reversing the trend of those disparities. Thanks to Prop. 209, any drug bust on a California state college campus is unlikely to be part of the trend of targeting poor communities of color.

Given the prevalence of drug use on every college campus, this major federal/state/local crackdown at SDSU never would have happened but for the death of a white female SDSU student. The DEA admits as much in its press release.

Don't get me wrong: I abhor every aspect of the war on drugs. I don't support legalizing all narcotics, but I see no point in incarcerating drug addicts.

But undoubtedly, our elected leaders will never rethink our nation's drug policies until their sons and daughters are facing a decade in prison for buying ecstasy.

So if it takes crackdowns in rich neighborhoods, college campuses, and corporate boardrooms to ignite a reconsideration of our drug laws, let's get on with it.

--Junichi