Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's . San Diego Border Patrol Agents and local law enforcement partners partners arrested three suspects and seized 232 lbs. The feds said they were able to bust the drug ring after gathering evidence from wiretaps and catching their talk of dealing and selling to undercover agents. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. Here's what we are predicting for winter this year. (NCD). The initial appearances of the defendants start Monday afternoon at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Nine people have been indicted in connection with a drug bust conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies in Maryland, authorities announced this week. "According to the DEA, that's enough fentanyl to kill 230,000 people, and when you mix it with the heroin, that's enough fatal doses to kill every individual on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.". It is typically used to tranquilize elephants and other large animals. Police seized more than 80 pounds of meth, 200 bags of fentanyl, more than two dozen guns and $135,000 in cash in a massive drug bust in Montgomery County. BROOKLYN PARK, Md. Morales and Ponce pleaded not guilty and are being held in prison without bail, according to USA Today. EASTON, Md. This all came about because fn . A CBP K-9 team screened the vehicle and received a positive alert to the presence of narcotics. An investigation led to the indictments of nine people alleged to be part of a significant drug-trafficking organization on the Eastern Shore, according to Maryland State Police.Police and prosecutors said this is most likely the largest drug bust ever on the Eastern Shore, breaking up a major drug distribution ring that police said had plans to service the entire Mid-Atlantic region. 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"According to the (Drug Enforcement Agency), that's enough fentanyl to kill 250,000 people, and when you mix it with the heroine, that's enough fatal doses to kill every individual on the Eastern Shore," Riley said.The following people are all being held without bond after they were indicted on various drug charges.Justin Aaron Spain, 41, of LanhamMichael Anthony Holland, 36, of HurlockGregory Lovern Williams Jr., 39, of FederalsburgMargerette Derosiers, 28, of FederalsburgAndre Luther Woolford, 33, of HurlockJoseph Archie Spain III, 44, of PrestonMichelle Lynn Spain, 48, of PrestonJames Eugene Simms, 36, of Great MillsGeorge Alfred Butler, 56, of FederalsburgMultiple law enforcement agencies ultimately provided assistance with the investigation, state police said. Spain, who is being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center, faces a list of charges including two counts of being a drug kingpin along with possession and distribution of a large amount of a controlled dangerous substance, among other offenses. Officers charged the suspects with distribution and weapon violations. Police confiscated more than 4 pounds of pure heroin, along with $300,000 cash. OCEAN CITY, MD Police said they busted a drug deal on the Ocean City boardwalk last Thursday. Officials say they believe international cartels are behind the illegal large-scale marijuana farms. "A half-kilogram of fentanyl was taken in and 2.2 kilograms of heroin were taken in," Caroline County State's Attorney Joseph Riley said. The indictment laid out 116 charges against 15 men and one woman accused of . Rayvon Walls, age 25, of Indian Head, Maryland. Ecuadorean police found some 8.78 tons of cocaine hidden in a container with bananas, the organization said on Sunday. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Four people, Terrence Chester, 29 years old, Derrick Foxworth, 36 years old, Brandi Hartley, 40 years old and Alonzo Harris, 31 years old, all of Cumberland were arrested and charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute not marijuana, three counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and firearms-related charges. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. During the search, police seized: Howard said the raids resulted in the recovery of the drugs, some cash and roughly 34 firearms, three of which were "privately manufactured," or ghost guns. Of the 201 tonnes of drugs seized in Ecuador last year, almost 18% was destined for Belgium, specifically Antwerp, Zapata said. Maryland drug bust involving fentanyl, cocaine. During the investigation, DEA agents and officers, along with the Fontana Police Department, identified a house in Norco where drugs were being stored. MCIN is particularly focused on those criminal networks that are impacting multiple jurisdictions and accomplishes this by sharing information across borders. Frederick J. Davis, age 31, of Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Washington County Narcotics Task Force performed the drug raid at a Hagerstown apartment after first obtaining a warrant based on a narcotics investigation of that address. Border Patrol officers encountered a 37-year-old woman, who is a United States citizen, driving a 2016 pickup truck, applying for admission into the United States from Mexico at the Andrade Port of Entry. Expand. The size of the seizure over the weekend makes it necessary for Ecuador to further strengthen cooperation with the Belgian government, Ecuador's Interior Minister Juan Zapata told reporters. July 9, 2021 / 10:14 AM / CBS News. Nine Maryland residents have been charged following several months of investigation into an alleged drug trafficking organization operating along the Eastern Shore. (ABC7 photo) GAITHERSBURG, Md. "Successes like today make it clear to criminals that as long as they pursue a life of crime, we will pursue them, and like those being indicted, they will end up behind bars," said Kunle Adeyemo, executive director of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services.Police said investigators developed evidence from years of surveillance that led to warrants to search homes in Preston, Hurlock, Federalsburg, Lanham and Crofton, where police said they recovered more than 18 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl, 5.9 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 170 pounds of marijuana, almost 34 guns and money believed to be connected to the drug operation. Sanders is charged with first-degree murder in Thomas killing. "We are working with agencies throughout the nation to identify Justin Spain's main suppliers wherever he was getting the product from," said Howard, who described the rest of those indicted in the case as "low-level distributors. Get the WBAL-TV app; Sign up for email alerts, Gregory Lovern Williams Jr., 39, of Federalsburg, Margerette Derosiers, 28, of Federalsburg, George Alfred Butler, 56, of Federalsburg. >> THIS IS THE LARGEST DRUG BUST AS MY TIME ASN A ELECTED PROSECUTOR. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The second indictment charges four defendants with drug trafficking operations conducted in the area of a music studio located in the 7900 block of Cryden Way in District Heights, say law enforcement authorities. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), 13-year-old girl killed in crash involving tractor-trailer on I-485 in west Charlotte, police say, Shanquella Robinson case needing high-level diplomatic intervention, attorney says, Man in Charlotte wins $1 million off $25 scratch-off, York County teens hospitalized after pursuit ends in crash, Super-rare Jurassic-era bug discovered during Walmart shopping trip, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Jovan Brian Lancaster, a/k/a "Juvie," age 30, of Maryland. Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Narcotic Bureau identified over 500 illegal marijuana cultivations in 2021, increasing from the 150 identified in 2020, according to a June statement. "These drugs were not just intended for these three small rural counties," he said. Maryland bust nets $1M in drugs, 9 arrests, 34 guns Authorities said they seized more than $1 million in drugs, including 18 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, and 170 lbs. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. >> ACCORDING TO THE DEA, THAT IS ENOUGH FENTANYL TO KILL TO 50,000 PEOPLE WHEN UYO MIX IT WITH THE HEROIN THAT IS ENOUGH FATAL DOSES TO KILL EVERY INDIVIDUAL ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Police: 9 indicted, enough drugs seized that could kill everyone on Eastern Shore. / CBS Baltimore. Joseph Miles, age 62, of Westerport, Maryland. Tori B. Powell is a breaking news reporter at CBS News. LIKE THOSE BEING INDICTED, THEY WILL END UP BEHIND BARS. Andres Jesus Morales, 30, and Christine Ponce, 27, were charged with four drug-related felonies with the intent to sell a controlled substance, the Riverside . The Riverside Police Department raided Morales and Ponces home in Perris, California, on Aug. 17, where they found 46.2 pounds of carfentanil, 8.8 pounds of cocaine, and 2.2 pounds of heroin, according to USA Today. Brandon Richardson, age 30, of Silver Spring, Ryan Snowden, age 30, of Laurel, Maryland, Sonya Darby Thomas, a/k/a "Peaches," age 37, of Gaithersburg, and. Example video title will go here for this video, 'Peak Bloom' for the Cherry Blossoms is expected March 22-25 in DC. More than 200 locations were served with search warrants. There's a lot of guns. State police said the Caroline County Drug Task Force started investigating information about a large amount of cocaine, opioids, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines in Caroline and Dorchester counties and parts of Delaware. (WJZ) -- Authorities on Tuesday announced the indictments of nine Maryland residents as part of a multi-agency effort to dismantle a. (WJZ) -- Police charged three people in Anne Arundel County with drug possession after they allegedly found crack-cocaine in their . ", Release from @MDSP stated the following was recovered as a result of the Eastern Shore drug bust. 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(KABC) -- More than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine were found in a massive drug bust in Norco last month, making it the largest seizure of meth for the Drug Enforcement Administration's Los Angeles Division. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. EASTON, Md. Authorities say the group used the housing complex "as an open-air drug market where traffickers routinely conducted hand-to-hand drug transactions.". Maryland State Police told 11 News this remains a very active investigation and that more charges could be coming as well as more arrests around the country. inmate tried to escape from the Central Men's Jail today, A driver died in an intersection collision in Fountain Valley on Sunday, The City of Santa Ana lost a federal lawsuit against a homeless shelter developer, It is time for change at the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, Former Santa Ana youth pastor sentenced for molesting a little girl repeatedly, Santa Ana man sentenced for killing a man he had a dispute with. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "It's undeniable that we need new transversal responses against organized crime," he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Here's when the cherry blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom in DC, The DC cherry blossoms are officially in stage 2, Stage 2: DC Cherry Blossoms continue to bloom, Bloom Watch: DC cherry blossoms hit stage 2, Snowy and cold or dry and warm? The indictments were unsealed Monday after authorities arrested the defendants and searched 29 residences and two businesses, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. (WUSA9) -- Eighteen people were charged in a major drug bust following a year long investigation, announced FBI authorities and Montgomery County and Prince George's County police . FILE PHOTO: Workers unload sacks containing cocaine packages from a truck before the incineration of more than nine tons of cocaine which were seized during different operations, according to the Ecuador's Interior Ministry, in a warehouse at an undisclosed location, in Ecuador April 21, 2022. She called on the district attorney to prosecute those arrested in the operation. "18 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl, 5.9 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 170 pounds of marijuana and approximately 34 firearms"Picture from police:@wjz pic.twitter.com/a5fTULicBr. George Earl Gee, age 37, of Beltsville, Maryland. "There's a lot of money. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Marguerita Choy), Tags: Ecuador, Colombia, Belgium, crime, Europe. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The New Santa Ana blog has been covering news, events and politics in Santa Ana since 2009. Howard County police say a neighbor complaint led to a four-month investigation ending in a drug bust worth $200,000. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. Riley, the Caroline County State's Attorney, noted that Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties each have populations of roughly 35,000--significantly smaller than the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. The first bust happened around 7:45 p.m. at a Royal Farms in the 2500 block of Mountain Road in Pasadena. According to the agency, authorities had been investigating a cocaine and meth drug trafficking organization believed to be linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. GREENBELT, Md. The drugs have an estimated street value of $33 million. Residents as part of Cox Media group Television indicted, enough drugs seized that could kill everyone Eastern... 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