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Suspected Central Coast Meth Trafficking Ring Busted

SAN LUIS OBISPO (AP) — Investigators say the ringleader of a California central coast methamphetamine organization and three others have been arrested, and eight pounds of meth have been confiscated.

A multi-agency task force made the arrests Wednesday and the defendants were expected to appear in a Los Angeles U.S. District Court on Thursday.

The FBI says the investigation has focused on Julio Gutierrez, who allegedly orchestrated the sale of narcotics across the central coast and other locations outside California.

Gutierrez and 32-year-old Mario Garcia, also known as Mario Garcia-Mendoza, are charged with distributing methamphetamine. Garcia, who lives in Ontario east of Los Angeles, has eluded capture.

The names of three others arrested Tuesday haven't been released.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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