Drug trafficking network with ties to Mexican cartels is busted in the US

• Authorities crack down on drug trafficking in Texas.
• 22 people are arrested.
• Large shipment of drugs seized.

NARCO BUST IN THE US! Texas authorities announced that there was a major raid that led to the arrest of 22 people related to drug trafficking. The investigation continues, with the purpose of discovering other drug trafficking cells in the state.

In recent months, the United States has faced an increase in drug trafficking, becoming another of the problems that haunt the country and that has authorities on alert. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to combat drug trafficking and he pointed out that to achieve it, ‘undocumented’ migrants must be stopped.

POLICE DISMANTLE DRUG TRAFFICKING NETWORK

Authorities in North Texas made an important announcement over the weekend. One of the biggest raids of the month took place, resulting in the arrests of 22 people who are being linked to a drug trafficking network in charge of distributing crystal meth transported by various Mexican cartels, Univisión Noticias reported.

Local media report that the investigation began in 2019 and that was when they had identified the criminal cell that was operating in the Hamilton County area. The arrest of the 22 people was carried out due to the positive results of the investigation dubbed ‘Operation Long Reach’, Fox 44 reported.

How did the news break?

Justin Caraway, from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Texas, announced the arrest of the group of people linked to drug trafficking. In the statement, they indicated that they had been working on the case for a couple of years and hoped to continue with the arrests of all those involved in the case.

“HCSO ‘Operation Long Reach’ arrests 22 federally accused of methamphetamine trafficking,” Justin Caraway stated in the post he shared on his official Facebook page. Dismantling this trafficking network was a severe ‘blow’ to the criminal organizations that are found in various parts of the state and across the country. Filed Under: Texas Drug Network Dismantled

What Texas counties are involved?

Carawey reported that he began the investigation in October 2019 after the identification of a criminal cell that was operating in various parts of the state. Among the counties involved in the operation are: Erath, Hamilton, Comanche, Hill, Bosque, Tarrant, Dallas, Bexar and Hood.

“In October 2019, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office identified a criminal enterprise operating in numerous Central Texas counties including Erath, Hamilton, Comanche, Hill, Bosque, Tarrant, Dallas, Bexar and Hood. HCSO investigators and the sheriff began making covert purchases of methamphetamine from defendants in order to build a criminal case against the defendants,” Justin Carawey stated. Filed Under: Texas Drug Network Dismantled

What drug were they transporting?

Officials report that one of the most sold and transported drugs in the aforementioned counties is methamphetamine. According to the investigation, the areas involved have to do with the proximity between the United States and Mexico border.

Fox 44 reported that, “During the investigation, it was discovered that the meth being sold and transported within Hamilton County and surrounding counties was directly tied to a criminal organization spanning from Dallas, Texas and Mexico. Liquid meth was being smuggled into the U.S. and transported to the Dallas/Fort Worth areas of Texas. The meth was later converted to crystal meth and sold in kilogram quantities»

Who is involved?

The DEA is currently involved in the case and it has warned that the investigation will continue as more people are involved in the distribution and sale of drugs in Texas counties. Likewise, a list of the names of the 22 people apprehended was released and they pointed out that each had sold and possessed this drug. TO SEE COMPLETE LIST CLICK HERE

“The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division returned an indictment for the following defendants: Ricky Castillo, 35, from Irving, Texas; Brandon Leon Kimberling, 25, from Dallas, Texas; Desiree Traxel, 25, from Dallas, Texas; Sandi Kristine Villicana, 33, from Arlington, Texas; Chad Anthony Hughes, 41, from Dallas, Texas; Kevin Priesley Srader, 33, from Hamilton, Texas; Kristin Nicole O’Dell, 33, from Stephenville, Texas; Justin Scott Allbright, 35 from Stephenville, Texas.”