Posted on 10/14/2005 9:25:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Fifteen people in central Minnesota have been arrested in what authorities are calling one of the largest methamphetamine investigations in the state to date.
On Tuesday, October 4 investigators from the Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, which dubbed the investigation Operation Ice Storm, executed warrants at six residences in the Melrose area and three search warrants at local banks.
More than 50 officers from 14 additional law enforcement agencies assisted in Operation Ice Storm. This was the second phase of the nearly one-year investigation.
About 16 pounds of methamphetamine, which has an estimated street value of close to $716,000, was recovered during the investigation. In addition, an estimated two and a half ounces of cocaine, which has a street value of $112,000, was recovered.
Eight of the suspects are from Melrose, one is from Villard, one is from St. Cloud, two are from Cold Spring and three are from the state of Washington, according to a report from the Todd and Stearns County Sheriffs Offices.
The suspects who were arrested during the investigation are as follows, according to the report:
Raul Martinez Lopez, 40, Melrose.
Jose Salud Botello Garcia, 21, Melrose.
Miguel Reyes Contreras, 36, Melrose.
Jose Anthony Serna, 31, Melrose.
Antonio Morelas Chavez, 28, Melrose.
Emilio Sandoval-Jacobo, 32, Melrose.
Victor Manuel Perez-Sandoval, Melrose.
Jose Luis Alfaro Chia, 31, Melrose.
Silvino Rodriguez Arlas, 40, Villard.
Ricardo Medoza Ramirez, 43, St. Cloud.
Juan Manual Zavala, 34, Cold Spring.
Jose Antonio Zavala, 20, Cold Spring.
Jesus Valcenia Jimenez, Washington.
Jose Rojas Baez, Washington.
Antonio Rojas-Marmolejo, Washington.
The suspects are a mix of legal and illegal Mexican immigrants, according to authorities. They either have been or are continuing to be charged in both state and federal courts with various drug-related charges.
Several other investigations have been initiated from the information gathered during Operation Ice Storm, according to authorities. Those investigations are continuing.
The Central Minnesota Drug Task Force is made up of investigators from several counties, including Todd, Stearns, Benton, Morrison and the city of St. Cloud. The task force was formed in 1987 and conducts investigations involving controlled substance crimes throughout central Minnesota.
fyi,, My old stomping fround.
ground :-]
I use to hunt up in the Cold Springs area back in the early 90's. Don't remember my Mexicans around at that time.AWB
my = many
With up to 20 million illegal plus the legals, every area seems to have a Mexican population.
Just running the meth labs Americans are too lazy to run.
The suspects are a mix of legal and illegal Mexican immigrants,
Illegal aliens: They aren't just for the southwest anymore!
Once again, thank you federal government!
We were warned long ago. Buchanan being one of them, spelling it out loud and clear. Few listened. We are now all seeing the results, coast to coast.
So will these clowns get deported or will they work the sieves in the porous Justice and Immigration systems and go back on the streets like a bunch of poor man Tony Montanas?
Hey we can't keep them all down here. Its the share the wealth mentality.AWB
Hopefully that will cut down on some of WI's illegal 'farm workers' poisoning WI youth...
imo
Where are their the "But no human should be (caught doing anything) illegal" lawyers?
According to our local police department (neighborhood watch) the Meth is flooding in from Mexico since they make it down there for next to nothing and no one hassels them over procuring the ingredients.
I "had" a friend in Illinois who thought I was nuts for being so concerned about illegal immigration; she thought I was being paranoid, over-reacting, etc.... wonder how she feels about it now that they have spread out around the country?
Simple solution: Put them all in the lab, blow it up, and call it yet another "meth lab accident."
One less legal item, to crowd busy court schedules.
Fewer inmates to feed.
Possible deterrent.
Did you see some of the video Hannity took last week? Some of the people waiting to cross after dark shooting up with Heroin while they waited. Just what we need -- imported drug addicts.
That's a lot of soundex resistant names.
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