Butte, Montana – Numerous drug dealers from Butte and the surrounding area with connections to a Mexican drug cartel were caught up in a significant drug distribution operation that was disrupted by local, state, and federal law enforcement.
“With convictions in each of these cases, the people with men and their agents have quite literally saved people’s lives by ending this drug trafficking organization,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
The U.S. Department of Justice praised an investigation that led to 22 convictions of the majority of Butte narcotics dealers with connections to the Sinalao Cartel during a news conference in Butte. In one of the biggest federal drug trafficking investigations, more than 2,000 pounds of meth and 722,000 tablets laced with fentanyl were smuggled to Butte from Mexico.
“It is staggering to me the meteoric rise of just how fast the quantities have grown really within about the last year and a half,” said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
About eight months had passed since the start of the investigation. It all began with a tip from a local person. Sheriff Ed Lester stated that this case demonstrates the importance of tips to the police force. He had a warning for narcotics dealers.
“Southwest Montana is a dangerous place to do your business, so find someplace else to go. We’ll take your cars, we’ll take your house, will take your drugs, your money, your guns, and last of all, we’ll take your freedom,” said Lester.
An AR-15-style pistol is just one small illustration of the firearms that were recovered during this investigation. This is particularly horrible since, despite being small and portable, it fires with the force of an assault weapon.
“I want to thank all the people, the agents, the officers, the troopers who literally put their ass on the line to stop vehicles with these guns in the vehicle,” said Lester.
Agents stated that there is still work to be done and that this case is only the beginning.
