Students Arrested in Drug Operation

Students at four San Fernando Valley high schools were among 150 suspected drug dealers arrested by undercover Los Angeles police officers in a nearly four-month operation, according to the LAPD’s juvenile narcotics division.

In an operation that has run twice a year since 1974, officers posed as students at 11 Los Angeles high schools, including Cleveland in Reseda, Van Nuys and Grant in Van Nuys and Sylmar. Juvenile narcotics Lt. Bud Harper declined to estimate what portion of the total number of suspects came from the Valley schools, but said it was “significant.”

From Aug. 29 to Dec. 17, suspected dealers made 169 sales to officers, 135 of which were marijuana, Harper said.

“Methamphetamine is starting to pop up a little bit, but marijuana is still the drug of choice,” Harper said. “And it’s more potent than it was when these kids’ parents were using it in the ‘60s.”

The 150 suspects include 116 students, 111 juveniles and 39 adults.

Harper said drug users are not usually targeted.

“The focus of the program is to eliminate those kids who bring drugs on campus,” Harper said.

In addition to $158,000 worth of drugs and nearly $7,000 in cash, police reported seizing nine guns, though none apparently at Valley schools.

The undercover officers are chosen for their youthful appearance, Harper said, but all have graduated from the Police Academy and received special training for their high school assignments.