Early this morning more than 80 federal, state and local law enforcement officers gathered in Nacogdoches to begin serving federal and state arrest warrants on several key members of an illegal narcotics distribution network. The arrests followed an in-depth two-year long investigation that was spearheaded by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and DEA. The investigation successfully focused on targeting those atop the hierarchy of a major local narcotics distribution operation, as well as connecting their main supply channels in other cities and states. The investigation required hard work and extreme patience to ensure that those involved at the highest levels of the operation were reached. This criminal enterprise was responsible for distributing numerous pounds of cocaine and other drugs within Nacogdoches County each week. Dismantling that operation and disrupting their supply chain will have an immediate crippling affect on illegal drug activity in our area.
So far, seven defendants have been taken in custody on illegal drug and weapon charges and other arrests are likely. We appreciate the participation of each agency that assisted in making this possible, including: the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Alcohol-Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), U.S. Marshall’s Service, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and the Nacogdoches Police Department.
Sheriff Thomas Kerss
Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office
