Drug Task Force Operations Across Nebraska and Eastern Colorado Leads to One of the Largest Drug Busts in Nebraska History

Contact:  Joe Jeanette (402) 699-2067

United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska, Deborah R. Gilg, announced today at a press conference in North Platte, Nebraska the federal indictments of sixty people involved in a Methamphetamine conspiracy investigation in Central and Western Nebraska, and Northeastern Colorado. 

The joint operation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, included law enforcement officers from the Cooperative Operation for Drug Enforcement (CODE) Drug Task Force, Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group (WING), and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force (CNDSSTF), and Colorado law enforcement authorities.

This year-long operation resulted in the federal indictment of sixty individuals, and another four individuals arrested on state charges, for Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance with intent to Distribute, and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Starting in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 23, 2016, CODE, WING, and CNDSSTF members, along with the assistance of other Nebraska and Colorado local, state, and federal law enforcement arrested 53 on federal charges and four on state charges, throughout Nebraska and Eastern Colorado.  Seven of the federally indicted individuals are still at large.  The United States Marshal’s Service assisted in the round-up of these fugitives. 

Recovered during the arrest of these individuals were 8.4 ounces of methamphetamine and $1,141.

Two federal search warrants resulted in three vehicles seized, valued at approximately $85,000, one sawed off shot gun, one revolver, and approximately $17,250.  Five state search warrants resulted in the recovery of $17,500, over 2 lbs of meth, and 5 guns. Unrelated arrests include 2 individuals on local charges which resulted in the seizure of 1 rifle, a ballistic vest and 16 grams of ecstasy.

Participating Nebraska drug task forces included the CODE Drug Task Force, made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22 county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska; the WING Task Force covering eleven panhandle counties (Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux); and the CNDSSTF covering Hall, Adams, Merrick and Buffalo counties of Nebraska.  Colorado law enforcement agencies included the Federal Bureau of Investigation – (Denver Office), Holyoke, Colorado Police Department and the Sedgwick County, Colorado Sheriff’s Office.

“This is an incredible effort involving nearly thirty law enforcement agencies”, said U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg, “The coordination and cooperation in this investigation is a tremendous tribute to the selfless dedication we see time and time again with our law enforcement agencies.”  “Two years ago today we were gathered in North Platte to honor many of these same law enforcement officers who were being recognized with an award from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).  That HIDTA award, from a case which began in 2012, ironically spun off into the drug conspiracy involving many of these indictments and arrests earlier this week.”

Nebraska Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the operation/investigation

• Adams County Sheriff

• Alliance Police Department

• Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office

• Central City Police Department

• Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office

• Cozad Police Department

• Dawson County Sheriff’s Office

• Deuel County Sheriff’s Office

• Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Gering Police Department

• Grand Island Police Department

• Hall County Sheriff’s Office

• Hastings Police Department

• Homeland Security Investigations

• Kearney Police Department

• Lexington Police Department

• Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

• Nebraska State Patrol

• North Platte Police Department

• Ogallala Police Department

• Perkins County Sheriff’s Office

• Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office

• Scottsbluff Police Department

• Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office

• Sidney Police Department

• United States Marshal’s  Service

• Webster County Sheriff’s Office

   

  Colorado Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the operation/investigation

• Federal Bureau of Investigation – (Denver Office)

• Holyoke, Colorado Police Department

• Sedgwick County, Colorado Sheriff’s Office

• United States Attorney’s Office District of Colorado