Southern Oregon drug-trafficking organization ‘dismantled,’ officials say

Published 9:30 am Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Federal, local and state law enforcement arrested 24 people Tuesday accused of being part of a drug- and firearms-trafficking operation in Southern and Central Oregon after a sweeping 18-month multiagency investigation, which remains ongoing, authorities announced Wednesday.

The defendants, some of whom have a criminal history, were not named at a news conference Wednesday at the Grants Pass Police Department. They are lodged in the Josephine County Jail, where they await prosecution by the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.

Oregon State Police Capt. Kyle Kennedy said during the news conference that the criminal organization at the center of the probe “has been dismantled and is no longer in operation.”

The investigation — which included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Central Point police, the multiagency Rogue Area Drug Enforcement task force and the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team — involved nine search warrants and uncovered “large quantities” of narcotics, according to a DEA news release. OSP and the DEA described during the press conference that the seized fentanyl was enough to kill more than 144,000 people. Forty pounds of methamphetamine and 37 firearms also were seized, the DEA release said.

Over the course of 18 months, authorities seized $33,000 in cash, 44 pounds of methamphetamine, 10.7 pounds of fentanyl in pill and powder form, 3 pounds of cocaine, a half-pound of heroin, 250 pounds of marijuana and three-quarters of a pound of psychedelic mushrooms, according to an OSP news release.

Much of those narcotics, such as roughly 40 pounds of meth and more than 9 pounds of fentanyl, had already been seized during the investigation prior to Tuesday’s arrests, the OSP release said.

Investigative leads obtained with the help of the search warrants will be pursued as the investigation continues, David F. Reames, special agent in charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, said during the news conference.

“This case once again highlights DEA’s commitment to Southern Oregon and the strength of our partnerships throughout the region,” Reames said.

He added that the alleged trafficking organization distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine that was made from large labs in Mexico. The chemicals that made the drugs possible are believed to have come from China, according to Reames.

Kennedy said just because the alleged trafficking operation discussed during Wednesday’s news conference is defunct, it is by no means the end of drug trafficking in the region.

“We do ask for your help you’re the eyes and ears of everything that happens in your neighborhood, and we ask you report all suspected criminal and drug activity to local law enforcement agencies,” Kennedy said.