Posted on: Saturday, May 7, 2005

Men wanted on federal drug charges arrested in California

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two brothers who were wanted in Hawai'i on federal drug and firearms charges were captured Thursday in Southern California.

Manuel and Renne Luera were arrested as they attempted to flee a Chula Vista neighborhood in San Diego, according to authorities. An investigation by the Hawai'i Fugitive Task Force led San Diego authorities to the two men.

Manuel, 28, and Renne, 23, originally were arrested on Dec. 22, 2004, and charged with possession of methamphetamine, attempting to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm. The Lueras were accused of being members of a large drug organization based in Hawai'i, Southern California and Mexico, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Jay Bieber.

The Lueras were released on bond in January after posting $25,000 in cash. Renne Luera was sent to a halfway house, but failed to show up on March 9, while his brother did not report to a pretrial services officer, Bieber said.

On March 11, federal arrest warrants were issued for the men.

The Hawai'i Fugitive Task Force took the lead on the investigation and had information that the Lueras had gone to the southwestern United States, Bieber said. Authorities also received information that the brothers may have been in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego, and that they also may have fled to Mexico and even Brazil, Bieber said.

But the task force recently received "solid" information that the brothers were in San Diego and worked with the task force there to track down the men, he said.

Renne Luera was spotted by a San Diego task force member, but Luera ran to a condo where his brother was. The two then fled in separate directions and a chase began.

Renne Luera was captured several blocks away, and about an hour later Manuel Luera was arrested as he attempted to drive from the neighborhood.

The two are expected to be returned to Hawai'i to face the charges.

The fugitive task forces consist of federal, state and county law-enforcement agencies. Bieber said the combined efforts were keys to apprehending the Lueras.

"You have the local agencies that tend to work very closely with the community and you have the federal agencies, which have the authority to stretch across the nation," Bieber said.

"The San Diego Regional Task Force includes local officers, so they were able to work with the local and city police. They kind of know the territory and were able to work in the community and apprehend these guys."

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.