Federal authorities say they’ve dismantled a major methamphetamine ring that brought the drugs from Mexico to Omaha and into Iowa. The case involves nearly two dozen traffickers.
Matt Dummermuth, the U.S. Attorney for Iowa’s Northern District, says the drug bust will have a “significant impact” on the availability of meth in the region. He says the investigation began in February 2007 and involved a variety of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Authorities seized over six pounds of crystal meth valued at $275,000, some $25,000 in cash, five vehicles and four firearms. Over the course of the investigation, officers arrested 23 people living in Omaha, St. Cloud, Minnesota, and several Iowa cities: Storm Lake, Spencer and Dow City.
Dummermuth says 21 of the individuals were prosecuted and convicted, while two were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. Seven other defendants are also in the U.S. illegally and will face deportation after serving their prison terms. The prison sentences range from three to 21 years and the defendants range in age from 21 to 43.
Dummermuth says the network involved crystal meth being shipped from Mexico to Omaha. He says the source of the drugs was Omaha and several wholesale distributors were located in northwest Iowa.
