Published: May 17, 2008 12:30 am            

Cocaine ring busted

Six people from state and two from California arrested

U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Joel K. Reece, and Madison County Sheriff Toby Trowbridge have announced the culmination of a two year federal investigation targeting a major cocaine organization operating between Central Mississippi and Los Angeles.

Members of the organization were responsible for the importation into Mississippi from California of more than 100 kilograms of cocaine in the last two years. Of significance is the fact that this criminal organization routinely utilized drug couriers who traveled with kilogram quantities of cocaine aboard commercial airline flights from Los Angeles to Jackson.

On Tuesday, teams of state, local, and federal law enforcement officers arrested six defendants and executed seven search warrants at locations in the Jackson metropolitan area. At the same time in a coordinated effort, Special Agents from the DEA Los Angeles Field Division executed six search warrants and arrested seven additional defendants in California. The arrests were the result of a joint investigation between the DEA (in Jackson, and Los Angeles) and the Madison County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office.

As a result of the investigation more than 50 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of heroin, three pounds of methamphetamine and about $126,000 in U.S. currency have been seized. Also seized were 13 vehicles (three of which had hidden compartments) and numerous firearms. Additional arrests/indictments are anticipated as the investigation continues.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Mississippi Joel K. Reece said: “This investigation and subsequent arrests of these individuals has resulted in the complete dismantlement of a sophisticated drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of cocaine into central Mississippi. This success can be attributed to an outstanding partnership between DEA and our state and local authorities."

        

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