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31 Charged In Connection To Heroin Distribution Operation

(CBS) -- DuPage and federal drug hunters are celebrating what they see as a victory for the good guys with charges against 31 in a heroin distribution ring.

31 Charged In Connection To Heroin Distribution Operation

This is the first time the state Rico conspiracy law has been used in a drug case in DuPage County, where 70 people have died of heroin overdoses in the last two years.

"I would say that anywhere up to 80-90 percent of the heroin that we deal with here in the Midwest is traffic produced primarily by one cartel, Sinaloa," said DEA Midwest Director Jack Riley.

He says the 70 deaths in DuPage clearly amount to an epidemic.

State's Attorney Robert Berlin says charges against the 31 stem from a six month investigation which has determined the ring has been led by a 26-year-old Chicagoan named Andres Garcia of 4910 W Concord place in Chicago.

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