MADGE Task Force Seized Over 50 Pounds of Meth and Fentanyl in Two Days
The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) team seized over 50 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl within two days last week.
On August 6th, MADGE conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling north on Interstate 5 in the Medford area as part of an ongoing investigation. During the stop, investigators developed probable cause to seize the vehicle and subsequently served a search warrant, recovering 32 pounds of meth and nearly 4.5 pounds of fentanyl. The investigation is ongoing.
In an unrelated case on August 8th, MADGE contacted two subjects in a business parking lot in southeast Medford as part of an ongoing investigation. During this contact, a Medford Police K-9 alerted on a vehicle which was seized and 17 pounds of meth was located. The suspect -- 48-year-old Pasqual Padilla -- was arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges related to drug delivery.
MPD Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick said these two cases display the hard work their drug teams are doing on a daily basis in an effort to keep local communities safe.
The MADGE team is a multijurisdictional narcotics task force that identified, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, prosecutor-supported approach.
MADGE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which is composed of members from MPD, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, Parole & Probation, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.
