LANE COUNTY, Ore. (KMTR) –- Members of the Lane County Interagency Narcotics Team (INET) say they’ve found more than fifty pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $1-million.
On Sunday, October 28, the team executed search warrants in Lane and Douglas Counties following a methamphetamine investigation that lasted about four months. Oregon State Police say the local drug trafficking organization was responsible for distributing several pounds of meth every week in the two-county area.
Search warrants were served at five homes including: 76919 Mosby Creek Road, Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon; 2145 31st, Space #2, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon; 2755 Nova, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon; 103 Green Lane, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon; and 2175 SW Jackie Avenue, Roseburg, Douglas County, Oregon.
Investigators arrested Martin Bautista-Limon, 30; Miguel Nunez-Villanuva, 29; Ezequiel Gonzalez-Jaimes, 42; and Tomas Torres Gonzalez, 27. All of them are facing charges related to the possession and delivery of methamphetamine. Additional members of the organization have not yet been charged.
One investigator working the case says it’s both encouraging and discouraging to find the drugs. They say, “It’s encouraging in that we know that the drugs are not going to be distributed within the community. It’s discouraging in that we had not known of these folks before which means the organization's been operating without any attention."
The Lane County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team is comprised of personnel from the Oregon State Police, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Lane County District Attorney's Office and the local FBI office.
Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to call the INET tip line at 541 682-6266.
