Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department has released additional information about a drug bust that occurred during a traffic stop on the east side of the city late last week.

On Friday around noon, members of Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) -- assisted by GPPD -- conducted a traffic stop with two occupants suspected of trafficking methamphetamine.

A GPPD police dog alerted to narcotics in the vehicle and a subsequent search warrant was served that located approximately three pounds of meth and an undisclosed amount of cash. Both the drugs and money were seized as evidence.

The driver -- identified as 49-year-old Carlos Ortega -- and his passenger -- 33-year-old Chantell Barnett -- were lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Possession and Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

RADE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven and prosecutor-supported approach.

RADE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and it's composed of members from GPPD, Oregon State Police, Josephine County Community Corrections and the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.