The recovery of more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine by Indiana State Police in Indianapolis has led to the arrest to two people in Taylorsville.
Recovery of the methamphetamine, which is estimated to have a street value of $1 million, was being prepared to be delivered to Columbus and Bartholomew County, according to federal investigators working with the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Two men were arrested in Indianapolis in connection with the case, in addition to two women in Taylorsville, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
On Tuesday afternoon, officers from the Columbus Police Department and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department assisted JNET detectives to make two arrests at a residence in the 9900 block of Daniel Drive East in Taylorsville.
While inside the residence, officers recovered methamphetamine and cocaine. Arrested were:
- Laura Edith Rodriguez-de La Paz, 41, of Columbus, on preliminary charges of dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Joana G. Ramirez Castro, 33, of Columbus, on a preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance.
Additional charges are possible in this ongoing investigation which included the follow law enforcement agencies: The Indiana State Police, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), US Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Service, Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, Columbus Police Department Intelligence Led Policing Unit, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office is proactively targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
