Top (L to R): Maria Dremel, Benni Liu, Nathan Tieu
Bottom (L to R): Cesar Casil, Hoai Nguyen, Cecilia Le
SANTA CRUZ — Police announced on Friday the dismantling of an organized drug sales ring operated by a handful of students at UC Santa Cruz. Arrested were 3 members of the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity and 3 members of the Kappa Delta Phi sorority.
Police said they were informed of several packages shipped from overseas to three addresses in Santa Cruz in the 100 block of Peach Terrace, the 400 block of Locust Street, and the 200 block of Castillion Terrace respectively.
Investigation revealed that several packages of MDMA (also known loosely as ecstasy or molly) were being imported and sold to students at both the fraternity and sorority.
On Friday, Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team members, along with DEA agents, the U.S. Postal Service, and Homeland Security, served search warrants and seized over $100,000 in MDMA pills.
Santa Cruz Police also learned that a second shipment had been intercepted by Homeland Security.
The Neighborhood Enforcement Team seized over 4.1 pounds (about 5,000 tablets) of MDMA between the three homes.
Arrested were Maria Dremel (21), Benny Liu (21), Nathan Tieu (21), and Cesar Casil (21), all charged with conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance for sale.
Hoai Nguyen (21) and Cecilia Le (21) are each charged with possession of a controlled substance.
