Drug Sting Pays Off for Law Enforcement

The Placentia Police Department received kudos, a plaque and a $45,000 check Thursday from the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for participating in a sting operation last year that closed 14 methamphetamine labs and seized about 260 pounds of the drug.

The Anaheim and Orange police departments and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will also be cited for taking part in the drug-seizure operation.

Gary B. Hudson, special agent supervisor of the bureau in Orange County, said all participating agencies will receive a share of the assets forfeited as a result of the effort.

Hudson said Placentia, along with the other agencies, will be awarded additional money in coming months for their participation in the undercover operation.

Called Operation Buyer Beware, the investigation from October 1995 to April 1996 involved officers from 25 law enforcement agencies in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Stanislaus, Kern and Fresno counties.

Of the 14 meth labs closed, 10 were in Orange County, and more than $1.5 million in assets was seized.

Placentia City Administrator Robert D’Amato said that city’s share of the money will be used for crime prevention programs, including drug-related investigations.

Hudson said the four Orange County agencies were singled out for special recognition because “they’re the ones that made the largest contributions to the case.”