The U.S. attorney’s office announced in West Memphis today 25 indictments of 43 people on federal drug and gun charges.
Another seven were charged in state court. Thirteen defendants remain at large after initial arrests.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Harris said drug and gun crime has overrun the Delta and “the epidemic has hit West Memphis and Crittenden County hard.”
To combat it,
According to a release, more than 300 officers began serving warrants Tuesday morning. Most of those arrested live in West Memphis.
Stephen G. Azzam, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s New Orleans Field Division, was quoted as saying the effort was one of the most powerful launched against a drug trafficking organization.
From September 2015 through May 2017, undercover agents made purchases of more than six pounds of methamphetamine, 10 ounces of crack cocaine, 20 ounces of cocaine and 11 illegally possessed firearms.
Federal, state and local agencies participated in the operation.