Major Ice Investigation In North Alabama
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: March 6, 2011
Federal, state and local authorities have spent several days conducting raids around DeKalb County this week.
The FBI, ICE, Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Air Support, and Etowah, Marshall and DeKalb County Sheriff's Departments teamed up with Albertville, Collinsville and Sylvania Police Departments for the operation. The investigation is part of the on-going Safe Streets Task Force formed three years ago.
Numerous weapons were recovered during the raids, as was body armor, $15,000 in cash and both cut and uncut methamphetamine with a street value of about $30,000.
Arrests this week on federal indictments and/or state warrants include Jose Guadalupe Garcia-Garcia, Jose Martin Garcia-Garcia, Luis Matus Cruz, John Lee Owen Wilbert, Hector Favian Tafolla, Valente Lopez. To date there have been 6 arrests on Federal drug charges and 6 arrests in all three counties on State charges.
ICE Homeland Security Agents arrested a total of 28 individuals administratively to be deported back to their countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
“ICE has unique immigration and customs law enforcement authorities which complement the authorities of our federal, state, and local partners,” said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans. “Together, we can effectively remove dangerous gang members and their associates from the streets to make our communities safer.” Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
The FBI, ICE, Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Air Support, and Etowah, Marshall and DeKalb County Sheriff's Departments teamed up with Albertville, Collinsville and Sylvania Police Departments for the operation. The investigation is part of the on-going Safe Streets Task Force formed three years ago.
Numerous weapons were recovered during the raids, as was body armor, $15,000 in cash and both cut and uncut methamphetamine with a street value of about $30,000.
Arrests this week on federal indictments and/or state warrants include Jose Guadalupe Garcia-Garcia, Jose Martin Garcia-Garcia, Luis Matus Cruz, John Lee Owen Wilbert, Hector Favian Tafolla, Valente Lopez. To date there have been 6 arrests on Federal drug charges and 6 arrests in all three counties on State charges.
ICE Homeland Security Agents arrested a total of 28 individuals administratively to be deported back to their countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
“ICE has unique immigration and customs law enforcement authorities which complement the authorities of our federal, state, and local partners,” said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans. “Together, we can effectively remove dangerous gang members and their associates from the streets to make our communities safer.” Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
