Local News in Brief : Teens Accused of Running Drug Ring

Nine teen-age members of two East Los Angeles gangs were arrested for allegedly operating a drug ring that utilized bicycles and netted about $60,000 a month in street sales.

All were booked for conspiracy to sell cocaine after being arrested by a task force of 20 officers, Los Angeles Police Lt. Sergio Robleto said.

“They had sellers and lookouts on bicycles and dealt to motorists,” Robleto said.

The bicyclists even followed police cars and used whistles to alert their accomplices about the presence of officers, Robleto said. “But they apparently were unaware of the unmarked police cars and plainclothes officers who were following them.”

The teens were apprehended at 5 p.m. Thursday near Pecan Playground on South Gless Street. Officers conducted a two-week surveillance operation after receiving complaints from residents, Robleto said.

Booked at the Parker Center Jail were Leroy Landry, 18, and Miguel Martinez, 19, of Los Angeles, who were each being held in lieu of $5,000 bail. Also booked were seven boys ranging in age from 13 to 16. The younger teen-agers, whose names were not released, were being held at juvenile facilities.