Damn, drug dealers have to learn how to drive.

We warned you about this when last we reported about a suspect named Johnny V. Pham, who got popped in Arcadia for allegedly rolling through a stop sign — with 8,000 ecstasy pills in his car.

Now authorities say “minor traffic violations” led to another ecstasy bust and the arrests of two Wah Ching gang members in the San Gabriel Valley this week.

Asian organized crime has long been suspected of trafficking ecstasy in the L.A. area (and beyond).

Sheriff's deputies say that 22-year-old Jimmy Chau of San Gabriel had 2,000 ecstasy pills on him when he was stopped about 5 p.m. on Wednesday in the Valu Mart parking lot near Rosemead Boulevard and Longden Avenue in Temple City.

Parking lot violations? What, did he go too fast over a speed bump?

Sgt. Steve Kim of the sheriff's Asian Gang Team indicates that authorities had their eye on Chau, even though (taking our previous advice to drug dealers to always utilize low-key, mom-like rides) he was driving somewhat of a grocery getter — an un-modified Honda four-door.

“We had previous contacts with Chau,” Kim told the Weekly. “He was on parole, and he had recently gotten off parole.”

“It's funny,” he says, “we stop cars and all of a sudden we end up finding all these things.

It happens a lot actually.”

According to a sheriff's statement Chau …

Feel the PLUR: Bullets and ecstasy.; Credit: LASD

Feel the PLUR: Bullets and ecstasy.; Credit: LASD

… appeared very nervous and displayed some unusual behaviors prompted the deputies to investigate further. A check of Chau's vehicle resulted in the discovery of about two thousand pills of Ecstasy. Chau was arrested for suspicion of narcotics trafficking.

And, using the where-there's-smoke-there's-fire investigative technique, investigators then decided to check out a house, apparently connected to the suspect, in the 9000 block of Longden Avenue, where, they allege, another 3,000 pills were stashed, along with some meth.

Sheriff's statement:

Also seized from that location were one handgun, a shotgun, a bullet proof vest, small amount of methamphetamine, several assault rifle parts, live bullets, gang indicia, and several thousand dollars in cash.

They also found another suspect, 30-year-old Andy Lin, who was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and weapons violations. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Then they went to Chau's house in the 5500 block of Walnut Grove in San Gabriel where they said they found more than $1,000, which deputies seized. He was being held in lieu of $30,000.

At some point, according to photos distributed by sheriff's authorities, deputies also found body armor. Because dealing in the feel-good raver drug ecstasy can bring you more than hugs, apparently.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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