Newsletter - HIDTA News Letters

Following the recent declaration by a top US official that Mexico's cartels are seeing their last days, analyst Alejandro Hope finds there to be weight in the assessment but cautions that it will not mean an end to violence.

I'm late to the topic, but it's still worth discussing.

GBI: Meth-related deaths up 40 percent in 1 year; Local drug agencies: ‘If you see something, say something’

6/5/2018 12:00:00 AM

CANTON – The GeorgiaBureau of Investigation has reported that methamphetamine-related deaths in thestate rose 40 percent from 2016 to 2017 – an increase of about 100 deaths.Cherokee County drug agency officials say meth has been the most commonly useddrug in the region for decades.

“We were looking at itand seeing that, ‘Wow, this is a significant percentage increase year over yearfrom year 2017 compared to 2016,'” said Bahan Rich, a spokesman for the statebureau of investigation.

Rich said Tuesday thatthe GBI serves as the medical examiner for 153 of the state’s 159 counties, andstatistics for the remaining examiner offices were included in the reporting.

He said statisticsfrom 2016-2017 were able to be finalized only recently because of an increasein fentanyl and other hard-to-identify drug use as well as months-longtoxicology reporting processes.

The reason for theincrease in meth-related deaths in the state can only be speculated at thispoint, Rich said, but it seems to follow observable trends, like availabilityof the drug and a drop in price.

“It’s still aprevalent drug out there.

North Carolina deputies find nearly $91 million of liquid meth on truck

5/30/2018 12:00:00 AM

LINDEN, N.C. —

Deputies in North Carolina on Saturday seized a tractor-trailer containing $90.8 million worth of liquid methamphetamine in the driver's side fuel tank, WTVD reported.

Massive drug bust southwest of Atlanta

5/30/2018 12:00:00 AM

HOGANSVILLE, Ga. - An expired tag led authorities to a huge drug bust. Hogansville Police found four bales of marijuana weighing around 90 pounds.

GBI SEIZES HUNDREDS OF MARIJUANA PLANTS FROM WAREHOUSE IN DRUG BUST

5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM

AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation busted a warehouse full of marijuana plants in an operation so big state agents wore masks when they took it down.

Fighting meth death inside one metro-Atlanta county's war on this addictive drug

4/12/2018 12:00:00 AM

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. - A stunning drug bust earlier this week has again brought attention to metro Atlanta’s law enforcement battle against methamphetamine.

DEA says Meth is 'No. 1 threat' across metro Atlanta

4/11/2018 12:00:00 AM

ATLANTA —

Investigators said they recovered nearly $2 million in pure crystal meth hidden inside Disney character figurines.

It was all intercepted before the drugs could be sold in the metro area.

$2M worth of meth hidden inside Disney figurines (PHOTOS)

4/10/2018 12:00:00 AM

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Channel 2 Action News has learned that authorities confiscated more than 500 pounds of meth hidden inside wax Disney figurines.

The DEA tells Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne that this is one of the biggest meth busts ever in Gwinnett County.

AK-47, Huge Haul Of Drugs And Cash Found In Gwinnett Drug Bust

2/26/2018 12:00:00 AM

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.

Traffic stop leads to 1 of the biggest drug busts in Georgia history

2/23/2018 12:00:00 AM

In what one official called “a game-changer,” about $2 millionin heroin as well as methamphetamine and cash was found in Gwinnett County,authorities said Friday.

A traffic ATLANTA - Two undocumented men from Mexico now face federal charges after what agents are calling one of the largest drug busts in Georgia history.

Channel 2’s Aaron Diamant was at the federal courthouse in downtown Atlanta when agents showed off some of the drugs, money and guns seized.

More than 25 kilos of heroin worth up to $2 million wholesale, plus methamphetamine, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and an AK-47.

It was all brought in after a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol earlier this week in Gwinnett County.

$2M-plus drug bust called ‘game-changer’ in Georgia

2/23/2018 12:00:00 AM

In what one official called “a game-changer,” about $2 millionin heroin as well as methamphetamine and cash was found in Gwinnett County,authorities said Friday.

A traffic stop Feb. 20 bythe Georgia State Patrol led to police dogs finding drugs in the car, officialssaid at a news conference.

Sheriff: 8 Gang Members Arrested in N Carolina Drug Bust

2/22/2018 12:00:00 AM

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (AP) — A multi-agency operation has yielded the arrests of eight documented gang members in a drug bust in North Carolina.

Outstanding Enforcement, Prevention, or Treatment Effort on Tribal Lands

2/8/2018 12:07:14 PM

Atlanta/Carolinas HIDTA Asheville, NC Post of Duty (APOD)
The Asheville Initiative began an investigation into thedrug trafficking activities of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operatingon the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian Reservation, and other associatedDTO’s operating on Tribal Lands. Senior lieutenants/clientele of the DTO areenrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and identified aslocal based drug traffickers who are supplied heroin and methamphetamine by anAtlanta, Georgia-based sources of supply (SOS).

A&E Stages Heroin 'Intervention' in Atlanta's Northern Suburbs

1/5/2018 12:00:00 AM

In what one official called “a game-changer,” about $2 millionin heroin as well as methamphetamine and cash was found in Gwinnett County,authorities said Friday.

A traffic stop Feb. 20 bythe Georgia State Patrol led to police dogs finding drugs in the car, officialssaid at a news conference.

$3.1M in drugs seized in Georgia busts

11/3/2017 12:00:00 AM

In what one official called “a game-changer,” about $2 millionin heroin as well as methamphetamine and cash was found in Gwinnett County,authorities said Friday.

A traffic stop Feb. 20 bythe Georgia State Patrol led to police dogs finding drugs in the car, officialssaid at a news conference.

Massive drug bust nets 35 arrests, millions of dollars seized

10/17/2017 12:00:00 AM

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Law enforcement in Gwinnett County have arrested 10 people, seized more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 175 pounds of cocaine, $2 million cash, and 10 firearms in a massive drug bust.

Nicolas Fernandez-Lopez, Jose Heredia Gonzalez, Carlos Wilson Paz, Carmelo Reyes-Lozano, Cesar Leonel Perez-Flores, Raul Solorio-Campos, Rony Omar Martine-Colon, Tracy Price, Angel Santiago and Kevin Ernest Contreras have been charged with various drug trafficking and conspiracy charges.

Eight facing drug charges

6/23/2017 12:00:00 AM

Eight people have been arrested in Orangeburg County on various drug distribution charges by a unit made up of county, state and federal agents, according to Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.

“These are the early results of an operation that has been going on for some time,” the sheriff said. “This is the response to citizen complaints in an operation that spread from Orangeburg to Santee.”

The operation was handled over the past six months by agents of the sheriff’s office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Drug Enforcement Agency’s HIDTA – high intensity drug trafficking areas.

The defendants were taken into custody on Thursday and Friday.

Ex-baseball player gets 12 years on drug charges

11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM

Former college baseball standout Bradley Lewis Felder of Bowman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a drug conspiracy, acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake announced Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Felder pleaded guilty in June to his involvement in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute MDMA, also known as “molly,” and 50 kilograms of marijuana.

At sentencing, U.S.

Goldsboro Man Arrested for Heroin Traffickin

9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

The joint Drug Task Force and the DEA are continuing their work to tackle the problem of heroin distribution in Goldsboro and Wayne County.

During a recent investigation, officers received information that Johnny Bea Artis, Jr., 24, of 1886 Rosewood Road in Goldsboro, possessed a large amount of heroin at a residence on Daw Pate Road.

A search warrant served revealed Artis in possession of approximately 60 grams of heroin with a street value of $9,000. He has been charged with 1 count of Trafficking Heroin – more than 28 grams, and 1 count of Maintaining a Dwelling.

DEA names Florence Co. a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

11/21/2013 12:00:00 AM

From the Florence County Sheriff's Office:

On Thursday, November 14, 2013, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced the designation of Florence County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). This designation will allow Florence County Sheriff's Office to receive Federal resources to further the coordination and development of drug control efforts among Federal, State and local law enforcement officers in South Carolina and to allow local agencies to benefit from ongoing HIDTA initiatives working to reduce drug use and its consequences across the United States.

Sheriff says Greenville County is now a 'High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area'

11/21/2013 12:00:00 AM

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -

"We knew what this was," Greenville County Sheriff Will Lewis said. "We knew this coming.

'Faces of Meth’ ad a shocking look at drug use

12/5/2012 12:00:00 AM

The "Faces of Meth" - before and after police mugshots of drug users that depict the effects of methamphetamine on the human body - debuted eight years ago this month. It has aged a lot better than the folks using the drug.

Street Forms of 'Synthetic Marijuana' Products Linked to Thousands of Hospital Emergency Departments Visits Each Year

12/4/2012 12:00:00 AM

ScienceDaily (Dec. 4, 2012) - Street forms of synthetic cannabinoids -- so-called "synthetic marijuana" -- were linked to 11,406 of the 4.9 million drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2010, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Commonly known by such street names as "K2" or "Spice," synthetic cannabinoids are substances that are not derived from the marijuana plant but purport to have the same effect as the drug.

Police: GA, SC drug bust nabs $2.7M in cocaine

12/3/2012 12:00:00 AM

By RUSS BYNUM
The Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. -
A nearly two-year drug investigation in coastal Georgia and neighboring South Carolina led to police intercepting roughly $2.7 million worth of cocaine being smuggled along a highway and brought charges against 39 suspects, authorities said Monday.

Will Supreme Court turn up its nose at drug-sniffing dogs?

10/28/2012 12:00:00 AM

(Reuters) - Two dogs, a chocolate Labrador retriever named Franky and a German shepherd namedAldo, should have their day at the U.S. Supreme Court.