It is common for narcotic traffickers to carry spare gas containers when narcotics are being concealed in a gas tank because the packages create an inaccurate gas gauge read, the DEA task force officer wrote in the affidavit. They are also charged with one count of aiding and abetting each other to use a firearm in relation to that crime. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. All three victims suffered injuries that were not life-threatening after they were shot by two men, including one of the defendants, who reported seeing them carry an AK-style weapon, court records state. Federal court documents show agents arrested four people Tuesday . Meth now sells for about $5,000 per pound in Kansas, up from as little as $3,000 a year ago. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday claimed to have busted the "entire chain" of an international drugs syndicate, being operated from Ludhiana in Punjab. Among the weapons the Jackson County Drug Task Force has confiscated this spring include a flame thrower, fully automatic pistols and an arsenal of 46 long rifles found in one home. - An investigation into an armed and violent drug-trafficking organization led to the arrests of 25 Kansas City, Missouri, area residents this week in an operation that involved more than 200 law enforcement officers from multiple local and federal agencies. They can use screen-captures. Officer Patrick McCallop, a spokesman for the Kansas City, Kan., police, said a large quantity of meth was recovered after a large box truck was stopped at 10th and Kansas Avenue in Kansas City, Kan. An estimated 90 pounds of meth was seized. According to a recent. Tapia was also delivering 10 pounds of meth worth tens of thousands of dollars every two weeks to one of . Basic Hard Seltzer Expiration Date. Post author: Post published: February 13, 2021 Post category: Uncategorized Post comments: 0 Comments 0 Comments - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that 26 defendants have been indicted in a $16 million drug-trafficking conspiracy that involved smuggling large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin from Mexico for distribution in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. An international drug trafficking ring was busted by the Narcotics Control Bureau after a South African woman was caught with 2 kgs of cocaine "meticulously concealed" in her shoes and bags at Mumbai airport on Sunday. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) tweeted the border cartels treat children like property. A yearlong investigation by U.S. authorities in Kansas led to the arrest of a methamphetamine distribution cell tied to Mexico's Los Viagras faction of the Familia Michoacana Cartel. A massive drug bust involved over 25 people being indicted by a federal grand jury April 8 where they were allegedly involved in international money laundering and a meth trafficking scheme. The cartels are also concerned about quality control and customer service. C $883.51. A lock ( The drugs, valued at more than $12 million, were hidden in metal containers that were sealed inside four tires. Seventeen of those rescued were adults and 14 were missing children. If you test positive and you are fired, your replacement is going to be there, taking your phone, taking your car keys, taking you out of there and taking over your business immediately. The boy first hit the officer in the back of the head while the officer was trying to detain his girlfriend. Rafael Valenzia-Galaviz, 41, and Nora Linda Ochoa-Chavez, 41, were arrested Wednesday in the 1500 block of White Avenue as part of a federal narcotics investigation. Charging documents indicate the conspiracy took place over the course of three years, beginning around January 28, 2019. One package had a pound of black tar heroin. The Missouri Narcotic Officers Association has named the Jackson County Drug Task Force the Law Enforcement Unit Of The Year four times in the last eight years. Press Release. Thirty-one defendants were indicted Tuesday for their roles in a $1 million drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine and marijuana. Twenty defendants are now facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a Kansas City area drug trafficking scheme. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Kansas City police. Agents estimated the gang dealt $1 million worth of meth over the past year. It really is like getting a call from customer service.Among the weapons the Jackson County Drug Task Force has confiscated this spring include a flame thrower, fully automatic pistols and an arsenal of 46 long rifles found in one home. Hidden inside the gas tank were 13 packages. In a 1997 article, The New York Timesdescribed a typical lab in Blue Springs as a mom-and-pop operation, set up to support mom and pops own addictionswith whatever they didnt ingest themselves then being sold. When Cummings says doing business thats exactly what he means. - Sixteen residents of Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kansas, and Independence, Mo., have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Jessica Yoder. Without the COMBAT funding thered be no Task Force and each police department in Jackson County would be trying the best it can with the resources theyve got, Cummings says. U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref Announces FBI Sweep Down on Gang Activity, Drug Trafficking, and Violent Crime in Yakima County. Some dealers with ties to the Mexican cartels pray for these saints to aid them in their unholy activities. "Opioids are often in the news, but methamphetamine remains our biggest drug problem in the Midwest," said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, the top federal prosecutor in Kansas. Since being approved in 1989, COMBAT has funded the Task Forces operations. KC Blotter . Attorneys for federal prosecution. The Task Force has also earned accolades from its law enforcement peers. The ledger showed that during a four-month period of time this drug trafficking organization distributed more than 800 kilograms of cocaine and received $10 million in drug proceeds. Several pounds of methamphetamine, black. Columbus police searching for missing man last seen near Williams Rd. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Copyright 2023 KMBC via CNN Newsource. It didn't take long for investigators to trace his supply back to a major meth ring in Kansas City, Missouri, run by 29-year-old Trevor Sparks, authorities say. After a buy, well get follow-up calls from someone higher up in the organization, says Cummings. A year-long investigation resulted in the arrests of 26 people in an alleged conspiracy to distribute drugs in Jackson County, federal prosecutors said. Theres 455 grams per pound and a dose of meth is just a quarter of gram. Those rules include not using drugs, operating no side businesses, keeping customers satisfied, staying debt free and remaining silent if arrested. Valenzia-Galaviz allegedly admitted to federal agents that there was methamphetamine in a van parked in the back of the home along with some rifles, according to court records. This story was originally published May 12, 2021, 9:11 PM. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Bradshaw. of marijuana at an indoor grow site and one meth dump site both within Douglas County limits. The KBI reported finding more than 4.5 lbs. A cartel CEO enforces his personnel rules with violenceextreme violence. St. Joseph Police Officer and His Wife . The criminals running these cartels think of themselves as being CEOsentrepreneurs, captains of industry, innovators. #32-2021: KBI releases Kansas crime statistics for 2020 / Multi-year comparison 8/6/2021 #31-2021: UPDATE: Statewide Silver Alert is canceled . Three persons were arrested after contraband drugs estimated to be worth around Rs 7 crore were seized from two trucks in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, a police officer said on Friday. I cant give you a statistic for it, but I can guarantee we prevent some peoplekidsfrom having an opportunity to try these drugs for the first time., March 8, 2022149% Increase In Overdose Deaths Linked To Fentanyl Just a speck of fentanylseven hundred thousandths of an ounce (0.00007)can kill a person, but drug dealers are using the synthetic opioid more and more to manufacture counterfeit pills or to mix it with other drugs (like a fentanyl-meth combo being distributed in baggies with a "red lips" logo). ), If you are in a cartel, they might drug test you, Cummings says. Most recent. The transnational organized criminals trafficking drugs in Jackson County 90 years later are no less ruthless. and last updated 1:05 PM, Mar 16, 2022. Three victims were wounded in the early afternoon shooting at Westport, and witnesses described two shooters with AK-style weapons. Constantly updated. . 1 problem, stresses Cummings. Prosecutors have cited examples of shootings, including one where three people were wounded, in a motion seeking for defendants to be held in detention without bond. Read More. In some instances, defendants attempted to flee from officers. (As an extra incentive, a cartel employee working in the United States realizes breaking the rules might cost the lives of any family members back in Mexico. Crime does not stop at the state line and neither does the Strike Force, said Stephen McAllister, the U.S. Attorney for Kansas. It was unsealed as 25 defendants were placed under arrest by Wednesday during a large-scale law enforcement operation involving roughly 200 officers from local and federal agencies. We overwhelmed the federal system here in Kansas City.. The transnational organized criminals trafficking drugs in Jackson County 90 years later are no less ruthless. KANSAS CITY, Mo. In 2017 and 2019, a gun was not recovered in more than 92% of . Now theyre wanting to see if the front-line dealer who sold us the stuff sold as much as he told them he did and for how much money. Before joining The Star, he covered politics and local government for the Quad-City Times. This operation sends a very clear message to those using firearms in crime, selling narcotics and terrorizing our neighborhoods, said Frederic Winston, Special Agent in Charge of ATFs Kansas City Field Division. Constantly updated. Have a question about Government Services? A drug-trafficking . Deone Gardner and Theus were also charged in separate counts with being felons in possession of firearms. The black market economics of illegal drugs have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic decreasing supply. When a Franklin mansion caught fire online for being on fire in its Zillow listing, Mike Thakur and his family saw potential. What Does Elizabeth Johnston Do For A Living, nationwide children's hospital salary database, charlie and the chocolate factory toothpaste cap model. Officers seized 27 firearms, 1,877 rounds of ammunition, more than 11.1 kilograms of marijuana, 300.9 grams of cocaine, 278.91 grams of other illegal drugs, and $34,439 in cash. Two other defendants, one of whom has been arrested, are charged in related cases that are also pending in court. Marshals Service, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Independence, Mo., Police Department. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Two other rifles were found during another search of the home. Theyre checking up on him.But they are genuinely concerned about us being happy with our purchase. Cummings and his detectives are constantly vetting candidates among these low-level dealers, seeking out those who dont have the close family connections south of the border and, therefore, might be more cooperative. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. Theyre recklessly doing this to increase their profits, with a wanton disregard for the fact fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the Kansas City metro have increased 149%. ABOUT A 50-50 CHANCE OF GETTING A LETHAL PILL, April 10, 2021Drug Task Force Honored By PeersThe Jackson County Drug Task Force has earned high praise from its peers in law enforcement yet again. A Nissan Pathfinder rental vehicle, which was parked at that location, was struck by gunfire. Members are known to sell marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, purported ecstasy pills, purported Percocet pills (believed to be counterfeit pills made with fentanyl), purported OxyContin pills, carry firearms, and commit acts of violence. So, were not well known in the community as a whole. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the rescue of 31 individuals following an operation that took place June 17 through the 26 in Kansas City, Missouri; Independence, Missouri; and Wichita, Kansas, KY3 reported Thursday. - Eleven defendants have been indicted for their roles in a $1.7 million conspiracy to distribute 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and 10 kilograms of heroin, as well as illegally possessing numerous firearms. To me, it says that she is very brave, she is very dedicated, Friday said. Clark Hunt, Mark Donovan need to listen | Opinion, Couple stops at gas station for Michigan lottery tickets. KANSAS CITY, Mo. 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham D'elegance For Sale, Copyright 2022 KXII. Police have not released the suspects name or any further details in the case. 2 Nov 2019 1,628. The result has been multiple cases involving the Task Force, Jackson County Sheriffs Office and Kansas City Police Departmentin conjunction with the FBI and DEAbeing turned over to U.S. Though Thomas County has a population of only 7,900, the KBI uncovered over 61 lbs. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. When seized at the Arizona-Mexico border, a pound of fentanyl pills has an estimated value of about $14,500, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release from November. ), We had a situation when we wanted to indict 25 people all at once up at the federal courthouse, Cumming says. I dont think so., 149% Increase In Overdose Deaths Linked To Fentanyl, Counterfeit PillsWidely Available & More Lethal. That steady funding source keeps the Task Force fully equipped and provides the buy money necessary to lure dealers into the detectives undercover operations. An affidavit detailing the case was written by a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper who is assigned as a task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration. We want people to understand that any kids are at risk, Wade noted. Human trafficking, my friends, is slavery, Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) explained during a briefing with reporters alongside Salazar and fellow Republicans. Harvey. Now theyre wanting to see if the front-line dealer who sold us the stuff sold as much as he told them he did and for how much money. The driver was taken into custody. "I don't think anyone was going to sit on that much meth for very long," he said. MORE, July 19, 2019Case Illustrates Cartel Activity In Jackson County & BeyondWhat started off as a seemingly simple casea Kansas City, Kan., undercover police officer asking the Jackson County Drug Task Force with assistance when a drug deal made in Kansas was to be completed in Missouriturns into a months-long investigation involving multiple federal and local agencies. They control the drug trafficking in this area.. This week, House Republicans blamed President Joe Biden for the border crisis while inspecting the situation with former President Donald Trump, Breitbart News reported. Federal prosecutors announced indictments against more than 50 people in Manhattan and elsewhere in Kansas, as part of a drug trafficking investigation connected to Chicago and the overdose death . The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . All these digital conversations save the Task Forces undercover detectives time writing reports. The triple shooting occurred on April 17, 2021, in Kansas Citys Westport entertainment district. Drug U-47700 Poses Risk to Kansas Citizens: 6/2/2016 #6-2016: Grant County Missing Persons Investigation: 4/22/2016 The patrolman observed a failure to signal when the car changed lanes. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Delhi Crime Branch on Tuesday busted a gang involved in manufacturing fake life-saving cancer drugs, informed officers. Two persons were arrested after heroin worth about Rs 18 crore was seized from a vehicle in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Sunday, a senior police officer said. By Tori B. Powell. 2:51. Denison police make largest drug bust ever The 32 kilos of narcotics seized have a street value of $2 million, police said. Law enforcement is working together at every level, to hold you accountable for the crimes you commit and the havoc you have brought to our community., We know that violence and drug trafficking go hand in hand, said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley, supervisor of DEA operations in Western Missouri. A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website.Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. TOPEKA, Kan. -- Sometime after a January 2017 drug bust near Interstate 70's main exit for President Dwight Eisenhower's boyhood Kansas home, $72,000 in cash seized by the local sheriff's . #2 Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body. Working with our federal and local partners in operations like the one yesterday, DEA is one step closer toward reversing the devastating trends of overdoses and drug-related violence threatening Kansas City.. At the peak of the meth lab crisis in the county, the Task Force might help shut down about 140 labs per year. These charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's . KANSAS CITY, Mo. The van, which belonged to Ochoa-Chavez, was also searched, where nearly 67 kilograms of methamphetamine was discovered in gallon-sized zipper bags. Valencia-Galaviz also told federal agents he worked for a man who is already under federal indictment for drug distribution in Kansas. And theyre real sticklers about punctuality. Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's . A drug-trafficking conspiracy involving more than 200 area officers ends with the arrests of two-dozen people. According to a press release issued by Rockingham County Sheriff Charles . All rights reserved. Before those deals are finalized, buyers will often text photos of their cash to confirm they have the necessary funds to purchase the methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine or marijuana. They drove the car to the Highway Patrol office in Meade to continue the search. Date: 3/2 7:00 pm . CrimePoliticsPre-ViralBorder CrisisHuman TraffickingKansasMissouriSex TraffickingU.S. Harvey. The COMBAT-Funded Jackson County Drug Task Force seized 144 pounds of methamphetamine during a recent search of a Kansas City property. TOPEKA, Kan. -- Sometime after a January 2017 drug bust near Interstate 70's main exit for President Dwight Eisenhower's boyhood Kansas home, $72,000 in cash seized by the local sheriff's . The federal indictment alleges that all 26 defendants have participated in a conspiracy since Jan. 28, 2019, to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in Jackson County. With several of their cases having roots that trace back to Mexican cartels, the Task Force confiscated more than $16 million in illegal drugs last year. MORE. Agents say they seized approximately 434 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 31.1 kilograms of heroin, approximately 14 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 12.8 . Western District of Missouri Thomas County. The youngest victim was four-years-old. In his now 38 years of law enforcement experience25 of the 38 dedicated almost entirely to drug-law enforcementCummings is more convinced than ever there will always be some demand and abuse of drugs. Yet he remains fervent about his work. 06.01.2022. The resulting traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle after a K-9 dog smelled narcotics. The DEA has seized a record 20 million fentanyl pills nationwide this year, including more than 9.5 million in Arizona alone. Her response was, I dont want to quit, Friday said. We now just have a new supply line meeting the demand.For the Task Force, following the supply line across county lines, into other states and beyond national borders has required partnering with federal agencies on more and more in-depth investigations that might take multiple months or even years to unfold. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of drugs worth Rs 1,513.05 crore seized under a campaign in the last eight years, officials said. We have boys and girls as young as six or seven years old being pushed into sex trafficking, he continued. Last Wednesday, a federal grand jury indicted 27 defendants on 34 counts of drug charges. Nail-gun-wielding man shot, wounded by police in northeastern Kansas, Former Clay County deputy indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting a jail inmate, Kansas City man convicted of killing ex-girlfriends boyfriend in 2021 shooting, Jackson Mahomes accused of assault by Overland Park restaurant owner and waiter, Is Travis Kelce Chiefs most eligible bachelor? He asks, Should we just give up fighting and trying to make drugs as limited as possible? Thats just a big fancy way of saying Mexican cartels bringing their drugs across the border, points out Dan Cummings, Officer-In-Charge of the Jackson County Drug Task Force. (Source: KMBC), Man arrested on multiple charges after crashing vehicle into sheriffs investigator during chase. He told detectives he was to be paid $5,000 for delivering the drugs to New York City. Their objective is to "get the head of the snake," rather than just chasing the tail. Kansas Bookings. 1 problem, stresses Cummings. Any adults are at risk. Drugs Worth Rs 1,500 Crore Destroyed In Delhi Over 8 Years, 154 Arrested. This operation removed a large number of armed and dangerous drug dealers from the streets of our community, said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The amount of illegal methamphetamine seized in the city rose from 58 pounds in 2021 to 384 pounds in 2022, an increase of over 560%, according to the office of the city's top narcotics prosecutor. The troopers opened the cars trunk and found two plastic gas containers. They want our repeat business. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. (AP) A year-long investigation resulted in the arrests of 26 people in an alleged conspiracy to distribute drugs in Jackson County, federal prosecutors said. Diagnostyka, naprawy, doradztwo, serwis i materiay eksploatacyjne do przewiertw horyzontalnych. Between 2011 and 2018, the Task Force took part in investigations that led to 1,238 federal prosecutors, compared to 568 state cases. Justice ProjectKansas City Executive Director Kris Wade told KCTV the group is helping the people investigators found and wants others to be aware of the issue. Federal court documents show agents arrested four people. AwardsThe Task Forces work was been recognized repeatedly by its peers: For some drug dealers dealing drugs is more than a business. The youngest victim was four-years-old. The raid was a joint operation by the central crime branch and the Mangaluru Police. Then wife starts to scream, Heidi Gardner coaches Chiefs Travis Kelce in commercial for Saturday Night Live, Lees Summit shooting injures 18-year-old, places nearby hospital on lockdown, Kansas City man pleads guilty in Northland murder where victim was stabbed, set on fire, Pedestrian dies in hospital 6 days after Kansas City hit-and-run: Police, Three police officers shot during east Kansas City drug raid released from hospital, Pedestrian critically hurt crossing street on southern edge of Waldo neighborhood in KC. All rights reserved. The KBIs annual drug statistics do not include prices for black tar heroin or fentanyl. When it comes to school spirit, few can . Marianne Williamson opens long shot 2024 challenge to Biden, Fiery tanker crash kills driver, burns Maryland homes. Two additional defendants were arrested as part of the investigation, but charged separately in federal indictments that also were unsealed yesterday. An international drug racket having links across the border was busted following the recovery of 20 kg heroin and the arrest of one person in Punjab's Ludhiana, said the Narcotics Control Bureau on Thursday. Lock (KMBC) - A Kansas City high school only has one cheerleader to rev up the crowd at sporting events but shes getting the job done. I am with the Jackson County Drug Task Force, I swear they sit there, lower their head and just go, Oh, crap. They know who we are, and they know weve got them.. In a 1997 article, Methamphetamine is still our No. Kansas City man charged after major drug bust at a Lake of the Ozarks hotel (KY3) By Andrew Havranek. Law enforcement arrested two immigrants who had heroin after a. recent drug bust in oklahoma city 2020. and last updated 1:05 PM, Mar 16, 2022. Numerous Illegal Firearms Officers Seized 77 Firearms, Large Amounts of Illegal Drugs During the Investigation. The Task Forces work was been recognized repeatedly by its peers: 2020 Missouri Narcotic Officers Association Law Enforcement Unit Of The Year, 2011 Missouri Narcotic Officers Association Law Enforcement Unit Of The Year, Increased Overdose Deaths Linked To Fentanyl, Task Force Spearheads Investigation Of KC Man Linked To Fatal Fentanyl Overdoses, GIS Hub: Maps, Crime Stats & Funded Programs, 2017 Missouri Narcotic Officers Association Law Enforcement Unit Of The Year, 2017 Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Outstanding Cooperative Effort, 2016 Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Outstanding Cooperative Effort, 2015 Missouri Narcotic Officers Association Law Enforcement Unit Of The Year, 2014 Missouri Narcotic Officers Association Law Enforcement Officer Of The Year: Jackson County Drug Task Force Officer-In-Charge Dan Cummings, 2014 Missouri Narcotic Officers Association Law Enforcement Unit Of The Year, 2013 Midwest Gang Investigators Association Investigation Of The Year Award: Jackson County Drug Task Force Operation Diamond Posse 2009-2012. Most recent. 25th February 2021 Leave a comment . This has to end the Biden Administration must show leadership. Cawthorn did not mention that the cartels also smuggle drugs into the United States, fueling the opioid crisis, the outlet noted. Anti-Drugs Agency Detained BJP Worker's Relative, But: Maharashtra Minister, Why Aryan Khan Should Not Get Bail: What Anti-Drugs Agency Argued, In Court, Shah Rukh Khan's Son Aryan Vs Probe Agency Over Drugs Bust, 3,000 Kg Heroin Worth Rs 21,000 Crore Seized In Biggest Ever Drug Bust, "Silence On All Sides, Is It Because It Is Gujarat? They were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. The younger the victim, the more money the trafficker can make, Wade explained. recent drug bust in kansas city 2019. He was among a dozen Kansas City and St The investigation . International Drug Bust Nets $677 Million Of Cocaine Bound For Australia, Nine Doctors Arrested In Karnataka For Trafficking, Consuming Drugs, 16 Members Of International Drug Syndicate Arrested In Punjab's Ludhiana, Heroin Worth Rs 18 Crore Seized In Assam, Two Arrested, Drugs Worth Rs 1,500 Crore Destroyed In Delhi Over 8 Years, 154 Arrested, Pak-Run Drug Nexus In Jammu And Kashmir Busted With Schoolgirl's Arrest: Cops, Drugs Worth Rs. When we come in to interrogate a dealer and say, How are you doing? Task Force Officer-In-Charge Dan Cummings believes the meththe largest amount the Task Force has ever recovered at one timewas probably within a day of being distributed for sale throughout the metropolitan area. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Wikimedia Commons. Methamphetamine is still our No. The. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Meanwhile, the migrant surge has increased the smuggling of children for forced labor and sexual exploitation, turning the border into a huge market for child sex traffickingRep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) said in March. Prosecutors said Thursday that the main supplier of the operation is Kevin C. Cokes, 60, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs, using telephones to coordinate drug trafficking and a conspiracy to possess firearms. Department of Homeland Security. .. Advertisement .. A joint U.S. and Australian law enforcement operation busted an international drug ring after intercepting 2.4 tonnes of cocaine aboard a vessel off the coast of South America that had been bound for Australia. A drug-trafficking conspiracy involving more than 200 area officers ends with the arrests of two-dozen people. During the organizations annual conference, the Missouri Narcotic Officers Association (MNOA) named the task force the Law Enforcement Unit of the Year for the fifth time in the last 10 years. TOPEKA, KSFederal indictments charging 21 defendants with drug trafficking were unsealed today after investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies made arrests and served 32 search warrants Wednesday in Topeka, Great Bend and Kansas City, Kan., Salina, Kan . cimarron 1897 heat shield, hill afb south gate visitors center address, cromartie miller lee funeral home obituaries,