Weho Man Named 'Prime Architect' in Cocaine Ring

California and New York law enforcement officers are hunting for 33-year-old William Wright of West Hollywood, who is described by authorities as the prime architect in a bicoastal cocaine ring.

Wright is believed to be one of five men running a cocaine smuggling operation that originated in Mexico. Drugs were funneled into Los Angeles and then smuggled to Long Island, NY, using secret compartments in vehicles on car carrier trucks, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Four Long Island men were arrested Wednesday. 

“This is one of the largest cocaine rings that has operated in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Thomas Spota. He said the ring had been operating for five years.

The eight-month investigation netted 32 kilos of cocaine worth an estimated $3 million, nearly $900,000 in cash, illegal steroids, a cocaine press for drug street sales, money counters and two shotguns.

“This was truly an outstanding job by Suffolk narcotic police in eliminating a major cocaine traffic ring,” said Spota.

The investigation began with Suffolk narcotic undercover work that then led to attaining court authorized wiretaps that captured significant information about the operation, said Spota. The arrests were made July 19 and kept confidential in order for police to uncover further suspects and operation details.

Spota said the drug transportation method illustrates the “ingenious” methods that drug dealers use in illegal operations.

“Anyway you can imagine to smuggle drugs these guys already know it and have tried it,” he said.

The Suffolk County cocaine network would pay $20,500 for one kilo and the resale street value, after being cut and prepared several times, amounted to $3.2 million, according to police.

This article was originally published on Babylon Village Patch.