UPDATE 1:56 p.m.: The News desk has the official story. We'll be covering all new developments. Keep checking back for updates.
Our previous coverage follows.
----
Five Columbia students and three drug suppliers were arrested on campus today for selling cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, Adderall, and LSD, DNAinfo reports. The students, who will face drug charges, are Chris Coles, CC '12; Harrison David, SEAS '12; Adam Klein, CC '12; Jose Stephan Perez, CC '12; and Michael Wymbs, SEAS '11.
DNAinfo reports:
The drug ring came to light in part after the NYPD received multiple complaints on its CrimeStoppers hotline, officials said.
Most of the sales took place at three campus fraternities — Alpha Epsilon Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha and Psi Upsilon — according to police. Two of the students also allegedly sold drugs from their dorm rooms at the International House and East Campus Housing, police said.
Undercover officers bought nearly $8,000 worth of marijuana, $1,000 each of cocaine and ecstasy and $440 in LSD from the students over the course of the investigation, police said.
The News desk is currently looking into the story. Check back for updates.
Update 12:25 p.m.: According to City Room, the students applied LSD "to Altoids mints and SweetTarts candy." Michael Wymbs, SEAS '11, one of the students arrested, previously served as 2011 class VP in 2007-08 and later as academic affairs representative before resigning.
Update 12:40 p.m.: Jose Stephan Perez is commonly known on campus as Stephan Vincenzo. He is a Gates Millennium Scholar.
The Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office has released an official statement, much of which details the additional arrests of three suppliers (not Columbia students):
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “An ominous aspect of this investigation was the involvement of college students in the violent drug dealing business. The recent shootings on September 29th and November 1st of young people involved in selling marijuana highlight the all too familiar link between drugs and violence. The students arrested today supplied dangerous substances to their friends and other students to turn a quick profit, but subjected themselves to risks, of which they were either ignorant or in denial. These students were playing with fire.”
The statement includes the defendants and charges.
