The Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) in the United States has arrested 30 members of the self-named
Black Mafia Family (BMF) and has seized over $3 million in money, assets, 2 ½
kilograms of cocaine and weapons. The DEA labeled
BMF a large-scale cocaine and money laundering operation operating in Detroit,
Michigan, Columbus and Atlanta, Georgia, Los Angeles, California, Miami, Fort
Lauderdale and Orlando Florida, St. Louis, Missouri, Greenville South Carolina
and Louisville, Kentucky.
The DEA said prior
to today’s arrests, they had already arrested 17 members and seized over
632 kilograms of cocaine, $5.3 million in money and $5.7 million in assets.
The DEA claims
brothers Terry and Demetrius Flenory founded BMF, when they started selling
crack during their high school years in the 1980’s.
The group expanded
to other cities in the 1990’s and turned their organization into a multi-million
dollar criminal enterprise, which operated in numerous cities.
“The BMF
was a sophisticated drug smuggling and money laundering organization, led by
brothers that operated in 11 U.S. states and had direct links to Mexico-based
drug trafficking organizations,” said DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy.
The DEA said BMF
allegedly distributed thousands of kilos of cocaine and dealt at least 2,500
kilos out of Atlanta, BMF’s home base.
“For too
many years, these drug dealers have poisoned our streets and cast shadows of
fear across our communities. Today’s arrests dismantle this drug mob and should
significantly impact drug-related crime in the communities where the BMF operated,"
Tandy added.
DEA agents said
BMF used hidden compartments in stretched limousines to transport drugs and
money and some of their vehicles were equipped with special devices to produce
air that would throw off drug-sniffing dogs.
The investigation
started in October of 2003 and culminated with today’s arrests.
“The proceeds
from the sale of illegal narcotics are funneled through the underground, untaxed
economy. This impacts every law abiding, taxpaying citizen,” stated Nancy
J. Jardini, IRS Chief of Criminal Investigation. “In this investigation,
the IRS Criminal Investigators analyzed the monetary transactions to track the
illegal proceeds of this drug trafficking organization, and the money trail
lead to the individuals indicted today. When law enforcement agencies combine
resources and expertise, we create a formidable force-the result of which you
see today with the announcement of these indictments."
BMF Entertainment
was working with Bleu DaVinci, a new and coming rapper, who released an album
titled World Is BMF, which was nominated for a Source Award in 2004.
