Drug Bust Leads to 96 Indictments
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: February 3, 2011
MIDLAND --Midland and Ector County law enforcement were working the streets early Wednesday morning, ultimately arresting more than 70 people for drugs. This made Wednesday's activity a huge drug bust for Midland and Ector counties.
96 people now face drug trafficking or federal gun charges because of this undercover investigation. This whole operation began back in August when the Midland Police Department wanted to put a stop to their drug trafficking problem.
Five and a half months later, M.P.D. says their happy with the end result. Agents stood proudly after M.P.D. announced a huge victory.
"Today was a culmination of a 5 and a half month long undercover narcotics investigation," said M.P.D. Chief Price Robinson.
Early Wednesday morning eight law enforcement agencies teamed up for a massive drug bust. 96 people have now been indicted, and 78 were arrested without bond.
"We targeted mostly street level narcotics dealers," said Chief Robinson.
Chief Robinson asked for help back in August. He called the the Drug Enforcement Agency's mobile enforcement team, they went undercover.
"We had undercover agents purchase drugs from drug dealers," said Joe Arabit, who was the D.E.A. Special Agent in Charge.
"Crack and powder cocaine, some marijuana, and heroin," added Robinson.
Ecstasy was another drug sold. 26 people were selling drugs near schools and playgrounds. And police aren't done looking. There are still 17 men on the run, and they are considered fugitives.
"It can't help but make the streets of Midland safer to get these people off the streets," said Robinson.
Arabit says what makes this bust so interesting is that most of the people involved had a history of breaking the law.
"Unique was the extensive criminal histories of the people involved," Arabit said. "We put some pretty dangerous people off the streets."
More than 100 agents and officers helped out with the bust, which lasted around nine hours.
Jackie Smith can be reached via e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.
96 people now face drug trafficking or federal gun charges because of this undercover investigation. This whole operation began back in August when the Midland Police Department wanted to put a stop to their drug trafficking problem.
Five and a half months later, M.P.D. says their happy with the end result. Agents stood proudly after M.P.D. announced a huge victory.
"Today was a culmination of a 5 and a half month long undercover narcotics investigation," said M.P.D. Chief Price Robinson.
Early Wednesday morning eight law enforcement agencies teamed up for a massive drug bust. 96 people have now been indicted, and 78 were arrested without bond.
"We targeted mostly street level narcotics dealers," said Chief Robinson.
Chief Robinson asked for help back in August. He called the the Drug Enforcement Agency's mobile enforcement team, they went undercover.
"We had undercover agents purchase drugs from drug dealers," said Joe Arabit, who was the D.E.A. Special Agent in Charge.
"Crack and powder cocaine, some marijuana, and heroin," added Robinson.
Ecstasy was another drug sold. 26 people were selling drugs near schools and playgrounds. And police aren't done looking. There are still 17 men on the run, and they are considered fugitives.
"It can't help but make the streets of Midland safer to get these people off the streets," said Robinson.
Arabit says what makes this bust so interesting is that most of the people involved had a history of breaking the law.
"Unique was the extensive criminal histories of the people involved," Arabit said. "We put some pretty dangerous people off the streets."
More than 100 agents and officers helped out with the bust, which lasted around nine hours.
Jackie Smith can be reached via e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.
