ATLANTA, GA – Surveillance on a Lawrenceville house led Atlanta's Drug Enforcement Administration to score a huge haul of drugs, including cocaine and heroin, as well as a large stash of cash and an AK-47, agents announced Friday.
On Feb. 20, authorities learned that a quantity of contraband was to be picked up in Lawrenceville. Surveillance was established at 2220 Golden Valley Drive. The residence belonged to Miguel Carahure-Guzman. A short while later, Armando Lando-Hernandez was seen departing Carahure-Guzman's residence in a vehicle which was subsequently stopped by the Georgia State Patrol.
The stop led to the seizure of approximately $200,000 in U.S. Currency and half a kilogram of heroin. Lando-Hernandez was arrested. The vehicle that he was in possession of contained a hidden compartment. Simultaneously with the traffic stop, agents and officers observed Carachure-Guzman exit the Lawrenceville residence while talking on his cell phone, rapidly walking down the street.
Authorities approached Carachure-Guzman and obtained consent to search his residence. Officers discovered two kilograms of ICE Methamphetamine, one kilogram of Cocaine, half a kilogram of Heroin and a 9mm pistol in plain view. Agents later seized an additional 24 kilograms of Heroin, one kilogram of Cocaine, approximately $50,000 in U.S. Currency and an AK-47 rifle, along with approximately 500 rounds of ammunition located in a vehicle inside the garage of the residence. Carahure-Guzman was arrested.
Robert J. Murphy, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Atlanta Field Division and BJay Pak, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said that Carahure-Guzman of Guerrero, 28, and Lando-Hernandez, 31, both of Mexico, were charged with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Murphy said, "It is no exaggeration that the abuse of opioids has reached epidemic proportions in this nation. The defendants in this case are a true menace to society and the poison that they were peddling will never reach the intended consumer. DEA will use every available resource to help stem the tide against this growing epidemic. This case was made possible because of the spirited level of law enforcement cooperation and the prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office."
The case was investigated by members of the DEA Atlanta Carolinas-HIDTA Task Force Group 2, the Georgia State Patrol and the Lawrenceville Police Department.
This investigation is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Harris of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia.
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA's interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv.
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