The discovery of more than $1 million worth of methamphetamine in Indianapolis that was due to be shipped to Bartholomew County has led to the arrests of two women in Taylorsville.
Indiana State Police confiscated the 50 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this week and began working with federal investigators on the case.
Indiana State Police arrested two men in Indianapolis in connection with the case, in addition to the arrest 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 Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives to make two arrests at a residence in the 9900 block of Daniel Drive East in Taylorsville.
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While inside the residence, officers recovered an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Arrested were:
Laura E. Rodriguez-de La Paz, 41, of 9966 Daniel Drive E., 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 10124 Jolene Drive, on a preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance.
Rodriguez-de La Paz was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $222,500 bond, according to jail officials. Ramirez Castro has since been released from jail, jail officials said.
Additional charges are possible in the ongoing investigation, police said.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County. Other agencies involved in the investigation were Indiana State Police, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Service.
