Twenty-five people face federal charges tied to a "large-scale" methamphetamine and marijuana trafficking investigation centered in northeast Arkansas, authorities said Friday.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Christopher Thyer said in a statement that 21 of the suspects named in a 62-count indictment have been arrested and are set to make an initial appearance before a magistrate judge Friday afternoon.
"The result of many hours of investigation by dedicated law enforcement agents and officers is clear — drug traffickers will be arrested and prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law,” Thyer said in the statement. “We continue to target the networks supplying meth across the northeastern region of Arkansas to take the dealers, the drugs, and the weapons out of our communities.”
Seventeen of the suspects were arrested Thursday morning during an early-morning sweep in and around Blytheville. Another was arrested that night, and three more were already in custody on other charges.
Investigators also reported seizing more than $50,000 in drug money, multiple cars and motorcycles, drug paraphernalia and firearms.