Federal authorities say they have dismantled a major methamphetamine ring in Iowa that involved nearly two dozen traffickers. Matt Dummermuth, the U.S. Attorney for Iowa’s Northern District, says the drug bust will have a “significant impact” on the availability of meth in northwest Iowa.
“The people involved in distributing the crystal meth were responsible for the majority of the meth sold on the streets in Spencer, Iowa Great Lakes and Storm Lake areas,” Dummermuth told Radio Iowa. The investigation began in February 2007 and involved a variety of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Authorities seized over six pounds of crystal meth valued at $275,000, $25,000 in cash, five vehicles and four firearms. Over the course of the investigation, officers arrested 23 people living in Storm Lake, Spencer, Dow City, Cleghorn, Omaha and St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Dummermuth says 21 of the individuals were prosecuted and convicted, while two were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. Seven other defendants are also in the U.S. illegally and will face deportation after serving their prison terms. The prison sentences range from three to 21 years and the defendants range in age from 21 to 43.
Dummermuth says the network involved crystal meth being shipped from Mexico to Omaha.