Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jan 2002
Source: Gadsden Times, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Gadsden Times
Contact:  http://www.gadsdentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1203
Author: Darrell Norman, Times Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH SEIZED IN DEKALB VALUED AT $225,000

FORT PAYNE -- A multi-agency task force seized more than five pounds of 
methamphetamine near Collinsville Saturday night, the largest seizure of 
meth ever made in DeKalb County. Edward Mendoza, 22, DeKalb County 921, Lot 
19, Collinsville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 
after he was found to have a small quantity of meth, authorities said. 
Hector Daniel Cortina, 39, 14060 DeKalb County 51, Lot 22, Collinsville, 
was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine after agents seized more 
than five pounds of the drug at his home. "This is our biggest meth seizure 
ever," Darrell Collins, commander of the DeKalb County Drug Task Force, 
said. "We have had some one-pound busts before, but nothing like this." 
Collins estimated that the meth seized would bring more than $225,000 if 
sold on the street by the gram. The agents strongly suspect that the drugs 
were smuggled from Mexico. The arrests resulted from an 18-month undercover 
investigation into drugs coming into the southern part of the county. "Meth 
is the number one drug problem in DeKalb County," Collins said. "About 65 
percent of all the drug arrests we make are for meth." Collins said meth 
started hitting the county in 1998, when clandestine labs began showing up. 
Small-scale labs continue to show up often, but they produce minute amounts 
compared to the quantity being smuggled in. The DeKalb County Drug Task 
Force, DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, Fort Payne Police Tactical Unit, 
Collinsville Police Department, Marshall County Drug Enforcement Unit, 
Etowah County Drug Task Force, Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the FBI 
took part in the operation. Heavily armed agents stormed Mendoza's home 
about 9:30 p.m. That is where a member of the Fort Payne Tactical Unit was 
accidentally shot in the leg by another unit member. After arresting 
Mendoza, they went to Cortina's home in the Frog Pond trailer park. After 
arresting him and seizing the meth, they searched his business, Discos 
Novedades Reyosa, 138 Main St., Collinsville, but found no further drugs, 
authorities said. In addition to the methamphetamine, the agents said they 
confiscated more than $4,000 in cash, a pickup truck, a car and several guns.
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