A nine-month investigation initiated by the local drug task force and other agencies beginning in June 2019 dubbed Operation Who's Next? Homeland Security Investigations. "Opioids, including fentanyl and its analogues, are a serious public health concern, and the importation of vast amounts of this deadly synthetic chemical compound is a national security threat, Casey Durst, CBP Director of Field Operations in Baltimore said after the seizure. HALL COUNTY, Ga. - Deputies made three arrests in a major bust in Hall County this month. The trucks two occupants Felipe Genao-Minaya, 46, and Nelson Nunez, 52, both of Newark, N.J., were arrested on drug trafficking charges. San Diego County, Calif., 97 pounds. where this operation was . Detectives swooped in as the fentanyl was being transferred from a tractor-trailer to the trunk of Mercedes-Benz. The suspects are Paul. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, under the direction of Prosecuting Attorney, Michelle Lawrence, coordinated the event with the following agencies. The federal authorities seized $685,000 in cash that day. Items recovered during the arrests include drug paraphernalia items, 66 grams of methamphetamine, and 39 grams of marijuana, one shotgun, one sawed off shotgun and one defaced handgun. Galo was also suspected of having ties with drug cartel members in Mexico and in Little Rock. The Garland County Sheriffs Department, Hot Springs Police Department, Arkansas Community Corrections Special Response Team, Arkansas State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshall Service, Diplomatic Security Service, Hot Springs Police Department Special Investigations Division, Garland County Sheriffs Department Criminal Investigation Special Operations Unit, and the Garland County Detention Center were all present. The DTF is comprised of investigators from the Arkansas State Police, Garland County Sheriff's Department, Hot Springs Police Department, 18th Judicial District East prosecuting attorney's office and U.S. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The sheriffs office in Collin County got $68,000, and $344,000 went to the US federal asset forfeiture fund. 'Operation 8 Ball' nets pounds of drugs, nearly 50 arrests in Garland Co. | KATV A six month long drug operation in Garland County led to 49 arrests and pounds of drugs being seized by. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partnered with California law enforcement to shut down major cartel-tied illegal marijuana grow operations in Southern California on Tuesday. A total of 16 individuals all facing potential life sentences have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a methamphetamine operation at The Farm in Grand Valley. Illegal marijuana grows additionally consume between 11.4 and 36.3 million liters of water daily across California, contributing to water depletion as the state heads into what could be the worst drought in state history. They would drive to Arizona, and Rodgers would fly various cities in that state and monitor the progress of his crew. Matone is currently being held at the Garland County Jail. A Border Patrol K-9 at the Nogales border crossing sniffed narcotics when an 18-wheeler transporting cucumbers from Mexico came through for inspection on Jan. 31, 2019. Two othersJonathan Ibarra, 45, and Hector Fernando Garcia, 46, were also arrested. A drug bust last year was hailed as the largest fentanyl bust in U.S. history254 pounds seized at an Arizona border crossing. (KTHV) On Monday, multiple law enforcement agencies participated in a warrant round-up in and around the Hot Springs area. Three people have been arrested and sit in jail tonight. The seized opioid was hidden in a false compartment of the vehicle. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. Last month, 21 attorneys general wrote to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging them to designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), import dangerous raw materials from China, use them to produce deadly synthetic opioids at low cost, and unlawfully transport those opioids into the United States. A drug bust last year was hailed as the largest fentanyl bust in U.S. history254 pounds seized at an Arizona border crossing. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Kan. (KAKE) - Nine people have been arrested in connection to a Montgomery County drug bust. The 188 pounds of drugs were worth about $30 million. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The fentanyl was found in a shipment of iron oxide from China. [Emphasis added]. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) questioned Garland on whether he would support or oppose lawmakers seeking to classify the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. GARLAND COUNTY, Ark.- A man has been arrested after the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant. At that time, police went to the ranch with search warrants as the men were getting ready for another trip to Arizona. During that raid, local intel was invaluable., The Farm doesnt cease. Print Headline: Operation Who's Next? This was a multi-state investigation involving law enforcement agencies in both Georgia and North Carolina. Read the . We need support from the federal government and urgent changes to the State of Californias handling of illegal marijuana cultivation to address this crisis, and todays raid in Antelope Valley was a commendable first step in that partnership.. Federal involvement in the fight against dangerous illegal grow operations. Copyright Post Journal | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386, Jamestown, NY 14702 | 716-487-1111, originally started with the Warren County Drug Task Force (who) had made drug buys from people that were coming from The Farm. The Farm was on our radar., The nexus is made between all our drug intel and the Titusville gun intel,, Wed try to put that back into this puzzle,, Every piece of intel went some place in there., start looking at this as a global or larger issue rather than just The Farm being the problem., All of that intel was gathered by the Drug Task Force to our knowledge,, We supplied the ATF a packet with names, connections flow charts of how this is working, all on the drug end,, Where we were valuable there, we were identifying people via face and via recognition,, They (federal officials) dont know that. 1029 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, DEA raid of Southern California illegal marijuana grow operations comes following Obernolte, Garcia letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partnered with California law enforcement to shut down major cartel-tied illegal marijuana grow operations in Southern California on Tuesday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. staff reports A US attorney from the Eastern District of Texas announced the demise of the drug ring at a recent news conference in Garland TX. Photo from news conference announcing the seizure of 254 pounds of fentanyl at the Port of Nogales border crossing in Arizona. Stringer was suspected of arranging for the transportation and distribution of meth in the Malvern and Hot Springs areas by utilizing several associates within his organization. It lays low for a little bit and picks right back up with some different players., After that first raid, he said, Tucker steps up and takes over the operation because she understood it. He described her as the matriarch of The Farm.'. A third organization led by John Rickey Stringer, 34, was identified by investigators during this operation. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of The Sentinel-Record. Winter Weather Advisory Here We Go Again! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This past weekend our CBP officers were able to stop an enormous amount of these deadly narcotics from hitting our streets, Nogales Area Port Director Michael Humphries said. Police in Florida issued arrest warrants for over 100 members of a suspected drug gang on Wednesday . resulted in 65 arrests related to meth distribution and firearms violations, Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Lawrence announced Friday. Feds bust 21-year-old man who allegedly had 5,400 grams of heroin, 2,700 grams of meth in Garland home Angel Alderete of Garland, who told authorities he has ties to a Mexican drug ring, now . $1.6 million worth of fentanyl seized in Montco bust: DA. Numerous other suspects not related to the Galo, Hooks, or Stringer organizations were also arrested in Garland County for meth and or firearms violations during this operation, Lawrence said, many of whom have previous felony convictions for narcotics sales. The investigation revealed Hooks was suspected of arranging the transportation and distribution of significant amounts of meth in the area. On Friday, the drug task force searched a home on 3100 block of Albert Pike Road in Garland County. The shootout broke out during a federal sting operation against the two. Arkansas State Police. Calculations by the Task Force estimate each half-pound run equating to $2,400 in street value. Legal Statement. Photo from news conference announcing the seizure of 254 pounds of fentanyl at the Port of Nogales border crossing in Arizona. 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Over 500 local, state, and federal personnel were involved in the major bust in the Antelope Valley with over 200 warrants served. BENSALEM, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Bensalem police arrested two suspects and shut down an alleged drug operation running out of an apartment complex on Knights Road. Congressmen Jay Obernolte (CA-08) and Mike Garcia (CA-25) to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking that the federal government take action to address the growing crisis and prosecute illegal growers to the fullest extent of the law. A total of 25 individuals were arrested during the round-up. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. That leads to a raid eventually, he added. The drug ring was led by Rufus Rodgers, who rented a ranch in Dallas County. An undercover informant opened the motel room door, letting four police officers rush in for the drug bust. One Hot Springs woman says she's dealt. Garland told the Senate Judiciary Committee he has left the matter in the hands of U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the top federal prosecutor in Delaware, who would be empowered to expand his. Another 48 pounds of fentanyl mixed with heroin was also seized. While executing the search warrant, suspects Ramiro Murillo Garcia and Wilfredo Sanchez were taken into custody without incident. Zeybel said they would return through Erie and drop to Titusville they all called Titusville T-Vegas and the meth spiderwebbed through the area to the end user. District Attorney Rob Greene said the case "originally started with the Warren County Drug Task Force (who) had made drug buys from people that were coming from 'The Farm.' 'The Farm' was on our radar." "The Farm" refers to the Grand Valley location at 530 Hunter School Rd. According to a news release, the. He said CBP's seizures of fentanyl rose by 30 percent in fiscal year 2019, totaling2,770 pounds. Hot Springs Police Department. Legal Statement. Murillo Garcia and Sanchez were charged with two counts of manufacturing, delivering, possessing with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, and related charges. This stems from a Valentine's Day traffic stop in the 400 block of Jesse Jewell Parkway. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. LOCAL 1.617.472.5775 MISSOURI FENTANYL DEALER LEFT CLIENT DYING OF OVERDOSE IN CASINO BEFORE ODING IN ANOTHER: PROSECUTORS. These six busts have led to the seizure of some 818pounds of fentanyl--enough to kill 229 million people, according to authorities. In San Bernardino County, it would take our sheriffs department three years to investigate all the countys suspected grow sites. Eight defendants ended up pleading guilty to charges of drug possession and trafficking. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. BUCKS COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA ARREST DRUG ARREST DRUG BUST. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. That led to a second raid and Zeybel said Tucker was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver at that point. The Task Force intelligence officer, not named for security reasons, contacted Titusville Police, who had pulled over a vehicle, Greene explained, and found one of the known associates at The Farm with a firearm with an obliterated serial number. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. During this stop, officers located and seized 404 grams (14.4 ounces) of suspected powder cocaine. [Garland County Sheriff's Department, Vinelink], How you can stay safe in the event of severe weather, Technical difficulties: THV11 experiencing over the air issue, Strong to severe thunderstorms to impact Arkansas starting Wednesday, Your Arkansas weather forecast from THV11. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department recently released public information on illegal marijuana grows outlining the dangers grow sites pose to both public safety and the environment. . John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Guns, money bags, drug ledgers and money counters also were recovered. The work on this cash seizure case started with a great deal of police surveillance and the case grew from that point. The others arrested include O.V. The Farm was basically shut down after the second raid, Zeybel said. . These foreign drugs have created twin public-health and national-security crises of unparalleled magnitude. 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