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Twenty-four people have been arrested or indicted in connection with a methamphetamine ring that had been selling about 2 1/2 pounds of the drug a week in Midtown Tucson.

Police Capt. David Neri said investigators discovered the drug-trafficking organization last September after residents in the Oak Flower and Dodge Flower neighborhoods complained to the department and the Meth Free Alliance.

Local and federal investigators discovered two suppliers were bringing Tucson resident Patricia Loya, 47, up to 17 pounds of methamphetamine every time they came up from Mexico, Neri said.

It's believed the ring was in operation for about nine months, said Tucson police Sgt. Mark Robinson.

Loya sold the drug herself and gave it to smaller dealers to sell, Neri said. They were selling about 2 1/2 pounds per week in neighborhoods near East Fifth Street and North Alvernon Way.

One pound of methamphetamine is equal to 810 doses, so the Loya drug trafficking network was a significant organization, Neri said.

One quarter gram, a tiny fraction of an ounce, of methamphetamine sells for about $40, Neri said.

Detectives knew when they began investigating the case they were close to busting a high-level dealer because the purity of the methamphetamine was so high, Neri said.

While most methamphetamine made in the United States is 60 to 75 percent pure, Neri said, the methamphetamine given to Loya was 75 to 95 percent pure.

Detectives repeatedly saw people trading stolen property for the meth, which shows meth is intrinsically linked to property crimes, Neri said.

The Loya organization was the fifth major methamphetamine organization to be busted in the last two years, but the others were primarily manufacturing rings, Neri said.

Two of the 24 people indicted by the Arizona Attorney General's Office were suppliers and four were distributors, Neri said.

All but two have been arrested, authorities said.

Loya was indicted on one count of conspiracy, 10 counts of unlawful transport of a dangerous drug for sale and six counts of unlawful use of a wire communication to facilitate a drug offense.

Counter Narcotics Alliance members and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine and almost 4 pounds of cocaine during the investigation, Neri said. They also seized two weapons and 10 vehicles, some with hidden compartments.

Those arrested or indicted were Loya; Lorenzo Sanchez, 38; Maria Isabel Sepulveda-Moreno 36; Jose Arvizu, 26; Josefina Reyes-Torres, 33; Rosario Cervantes-Lugo, 25; Marco Antonio Armenta-Sepulveda, 34; Gabriel Lopez, 31; Antonio Paz-Gonzalez, 30; Troy Neumann, 45; Frank Sroka, 51; Lawrence Rios, 41; Juan Felix, 26; Debbie Neumann, 44; Patricia Cichocki, 42; Fabian Moreno, 28; Curtis Warden, 28; Angelica Ramirez, 20; Randy Smith, 22; Jesus Reynaga, 40; Linda Cota, 30; Ray Hobbs, 29; Minerva Dicochea, 24; and Israel Luzania, 28.

● Star reporter Dale Quinn contributed to this story. Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com.