AGENTS SEIZE CACHE OF HEROIN; RESTAURATEUR HELD

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 27, 1992                   TAG: 9202270293
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Victoria Ratcliff
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
AGENTS SEIZE CACHE OF HEROIN; RESTAURATEUR HELD
The owner of a Chinese restaurant in the Richmond area has been arrested by federal agents in the largest known heroin seizure in Virginia, federal officials said Wednesday.
Chong Yeek Y, also known as Desmond Chong, 28, was arrested last week with about 8 1/2 pounds of China white heroin, said Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Scott of Roanoke. The heroin has a street value of $23 million, he said.
Chong, a Malaysian national, owns the China Wok restaurant in Louisa.
Investigation into the case began Feb. 14 when a U.S. Customs inspector in New York intercepted a package being sent to Chong from Malaysia, Scott said.
Malaysia is considered to be a source country for heroin, he said.
When the inspector realized there was heroin in the package, he forwarded it to special agents in Richmond. Those agents arranged a controlled delivery last week, Scott said.
Chong will be charged with importing heroin, attempting to distribute more than 3,600 grams of heroin, conspiring to distribute heroin, possessing the drug with the intent to distribute and using a communication facility to transport it.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4.25 million fine.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB