FBI bust nets 16 Bay Area suspects

OAKLAND - The FBI scooped up 16 suspects this morning in a major drug operation that focused on the Third Eye Lounge, an Asian restaurant at 1927 International Blvd., and other locations in San Francisco, Antioch and Crescent City.

The Oakland Police Tactical Operations Team assisted in the raid on the restaurant, which began at 6 a.m. When those inside failed to respond, the team broke down the door to gain entry,FBI spokeswoman Patti Hansen said. Federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents also helped in the raids, she said.

Hansen said all the suspects will be arraigned at today on drug trafficking charges in federal district court in San Francisco. "Until then, the indictments are sealed," she said.

There was one arrest in Antioch, one in Crescent City, Hansen said. The rest were in Oakland and San Francisco. Hansen said she could not elaborate or what kind of drugs or the amount confiscated until the suspects are arraigned.

The operation invloved FBI offices in Sacramento and Denver, she said.

Posters on a social Web site described the Third Eye as an establishment that opened as a bar with a pool table and video gaming machines, but became a Laotian-Asian restaurant with tables for patrons. Posters gave it a single-star rating.