Federal authorities say a drug sweep in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia has resulted in the seizure of more than 800 pounds of methamphetamine and 235 arrests.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said in a news release that Mexican cartels and other drug trafficking groups engaged in manufacturing and distribution or methamphetamine were targeted in Operation Crystal Mountain.
Since January, DEA special agents from the Louisville Field Division, with support from state and local law enforcement agencies, have arrested 235 suspects on federal drug-related charges and seized more than $800,000 in cash and 52 firearms, as well as significant quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs, the DEA said.
In Kentucky, the operation netted 60 arrests and the seizure of 360 pounds of methamphetamine.
“Everyone has a right to live in safety,” said Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Division Office D. Christopher Evans. “The amount of drugs and weapons we’ve taken off the street with this operation, along with the number of drug dealers that we’ve locked up, represents a small victory in our on-going fight for safer communities for us all. While America’s opioid crisis may dominate headlines, Operation Crystal Mountain should serve as a reminder that methamphetamine is a problem that has never gone away. The dedicated men and women of DEA, working closely with state and local law enforcement, are relentless in their efforts to rid our neighborhoods of dangerous drugs and bring to justice those who distribute them, wherever they may be.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
