13 people were arrested in Idaho’s McDowell county in a meth drug-ring bust which also delivered 24 pounds of meth, stacks of money and a cache of 43 firearms, ranging from handguns to assault rifles. Trafficking of illegal drugs was ongoing in both the McDowell and Rutherford counties.
A spokesman for the McDowell County sheriff declared that the ringleader, 51-years-old Ms Allison Smith of Old Fort, made sure all the drugs that came in from Atlanta for distribution, were provided to addicts in the nearby counties.
According to the arrest warrant, all gang members made a substantial income from the operation that went on for several years.
Chief Deputy Ricky Buchanan of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office: “Meth is still a major problem in this area.”
“Our goal is to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations in and around McDowell County, and I believe this investigation did just that.”
Ringleader Ms Allison Michelle Smith had a $5 million bond slapped on her.
Authorities say additional arrests are forthcoming.
The operation was a joint investigation by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police Department, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, N.C. Highway Patrol, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Morganton Department of Public Safety and the Prosecutorial District 29A District Attorney’s Office.
McDowell County Sheriff Dudley Greene: “The drugs were headed directly for our streets,”
“We’re glad they didn’t get there. This case underscores the impact law enforcement can have when agencies work together. I appreciate our dedicated personnel, and the partnership we have with other agencies.”
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