The DEA Seattle Field Division announced in a Wednesday morning press conference held at Grants Pass City Police headquarters that 24 arrests and 37 firearms were seized Tuesday morning as a result nine search warrants being executed simultaneously with all but one in Josephine County.
The Drug Enforcement Administration along with the Grants Pass Police Department, Oregon State Police, and multiple local interagency drug teams concluded an 18-month investigation Tuesday morning with the service of the nine separate warrants.
The mass operation resulted in 24 arrests plus the seizure of 37 firearms and 33,000 dollars in cash as the culmination of an 18-month long investigation into a local drug trafficking organization. Additionally, the search warrants resulted in 2,000 grams of methamphetamine, 636g of fentanyl pills, 52g of fentanyl powder, 58g of cocaine, 250 pounds of marijuana, and ¾ of a pound of illegal mushrooms.
The investigation had already yielded 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 9.25 pounds of fentanyl, 3 pounds of cocaine, and ½ a pound of heroin over the course of 18 months. These quantities are significant and their removal from the distribution chain is a significant outcome.
The names of the suspects that were arrested have not yet been released. The case will be prosecuted by the Josephine County District Attorney’s office.
This is one operation of an ongoing investigation.
Grants Pass Chief Warren Hensman singled out the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement team, known as RADE, for their efforts along with Central Oregon Drug Enforcement, the Central Point Police Department, the Interagency Marijuana Enforcement Team, the Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Douglas County Interagency Narcotics Team.
The Oregon State Police has been working in collaboration with local interagency drug teams around the state in order to deter and disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into Oregon communities.
