COLUMBUS, Ind. — Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress announced this morning that an extensive drug trafficking organization responsible for selling large quantities of illegal drugs in in the Columbus area has been dismantled.
A news conference about the arrests is now underway at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
Thirty-six individuals were indicted by a grand jury on various federal charges, including possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm. Of the 36, 25 have already been convicted and sentenced to federal prison, according to Childress.
In 2018, federal agents and officers assigned to the Bartholomew county Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team initiated an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation called “Operation Columbus Day,” federal officials said.
During this investigation, agents and officers identified members of a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization who were sending large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana to Columbus and Seymour, federal officials said.
What followed was a multi-year investigation targeting the Chavez family, who lived and operated out of the Columbus area, where “multiple family members and their close associates used a variety of methods to traffic drugs (primarily methamphetamine), Childress said in a press release.
Throughout the investigation agents and officers intercepted multiple parcels, conducted numerous controlled purchases and served about 15 search warrants in the Bartholomew County area.
Operation Columbus Day netted about 114 pounds of methamphetamine, 4 pounds of heroin/fentanyl and 28 pounds of marijuana, federal officials said.
For more on the press conference, check back here or pick up a Thursday Republic.
