Law enforcement officials have shared more information about a drug raid carried out last week across Iowa and Wisconsin.
Randall Thysse, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Omaha Office, says 250 officers from 30 agencies were involved in 29 search warrants executed last Thursday.
He spoke at a news conference Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, covered by KCRG-TV. “We seized a little over six pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of a little over a quarter million dollars,” Thysse said. Officers also seized 14 firearms and made nine arrests. Five meth labs were shut down, all located in Dubuque. Gary Pape, the Dubuque Drug Task Force Director, says fewer meth labs are being found in Iowa and most of the drug is now coming from out-of-state.
He says finding the people who are moving the drugs is likely more important than finding the actual product. “This organization is responsible for a large amount of meth coming into Iowa and by taking a lot of these people off the street, it really curbs the supply,” Pape said. The nine people arrested last week included residents of Marshalltown, Cedar Falls, Denver (Iowa), and Des Moines.
Another person that was wanted on a federal arrest warrant for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine was captured last night. He’s identified as 50-year-old Dennis Sharkey II of Dubuque
The other individuals arrested are: Aldo Omar Lopez Martinez, 21, Marshalltown, Iowa; Osbaldo Nieto Arreola a.k.a. Osbaldo Martinez Arreola, a.k.a. Adan Sanchez Chaves, 25, Marshalltown, Iowa; Roque Rodriguez Arellano, 32, Marshalltown, Iowa; Alejandro Hernandez, 38, Marshalltown, Iowa; Chad Ellis Weyland, 38, Cedar Falls, Iowa;Michael Vincent Woodberry Bent, 37, Denver, Iowa; Edward Behrens, 50, Benton, Wisconsin;Susana Martinez, 29, Marshalltown, Iowa; and Alfredo Morales, 25, Des Moines, Iowa