They searched his hotel room and found 60 pounds of meth and one kilogram of what investigators believed to be heroin/fentanyl, according to the complaint. A conviction on that charge carries a minimumof five years in prison. RELATED: 60 pounds? He admitted to traveling from Missouri to Wisconsin with meth. The next morning, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office announced the 34 arrests and the seizure of 3,164 pounds of methamphetamine the biggest drug bust in the county's history, and one of the largest ever in the nation. The 10-day sting is. The Missouri connection? That's what drug task force officers say they found while investigating a major drug operation in Northeast Wisconsin. Sandy Vang, 49,Wausau:three counts of distributing meth with two counts alleged to involve 5 grams or more. 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A federal grand jury charged 12 people eight from Wausau, one from Hewittand three from St. Paul, Minnesota in connection withthe distribution ring. Liebergen also is charged with possessing a firearm while committing a drug-trafficking crime. Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said Wednesday. A prosecutor said the seizure had a significant impact on the local drug trade. zp. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. WAUSAU- A Wausau-area methamphetamine distributionring was responsible for bringing "pounds" of the drug into central Wisconsin before authorities busted 16 people who were involved, U.S. Attorney Scott Blader said. Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value up to $6 million. He said police have seen theflow of drugs into the region increase in the past five years; the same improved highway system that make it so families can reach vacation destinations more quickly also makes it easier for drug sellers to reach customers in the region. Action 2 News is working to obtain all of the complaints and affidavits. The identities of the subjects are not being released yet. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Liebergen is charged in federal court with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime. The Wausau-area arrests were not connected to another major bust in northeastern Wisconsin involving nearly 60 pounds of meth found in suitcases at a hotel, according to Brown County authorities involved in that case. The Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department says a California man is in custody for the biggest cocaine bust investigators have ever seen in our area. According to the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department, on March 29 officers responded to a report about a suspicious person/vehicle at the gas pumps at Kwik Trip. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Authorities say they recovered crack, heroin and illegal guns . The value of the seizure at that time was around $350 million which is the equivalent to $415 million in today's money. After a lengthy investigation, officials say detectives uncovered a large drug trafficking organization in Pleasant Prairie. A 20-year-old woman was arrested in that incident, sheriff's officials said. However, where exactly the load came from is still under investigation. Something that we've never seen up here in this type of quantity," says Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain. m. 158 people will eventually be charged with drug trafficking, according to Wood County Sheriff Tom Reichert. Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug . Police found 1,800kg (283 stone) of what is known locally as. Authorities would not say if the Grand Chute arrest is related to an Oconto Countybust, announced Tuesday, in which sheriff's deputies seized156grams of methamphetamine. If you have any information, you are asked to call the taskforce tipline at 218-730-5750 or dial 911. Sheriff Becker adds that Wood County has seen 12 overdose deaths this year, and with the number of drugs taken off the street as a result of the raid it is likely that many lives were saved from an overdose. Sixteen people charged with drug crimes after meth investigation in Wausau area, 'Suitcases full' of methamphetamineseized in Appleton area, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Police encourage members of the community to report suspicious drug-distribution-related activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Additionally, about $50,000 U.S . Derek A. Liebergen, 26 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Malachai J. Root, 29 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Wayne L. Stilen, 39 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Sally A. Miller, 35 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Jeremy M. Ludwig, 32 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Kayla R. Kennedy, 39 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Jasmine L. Gillette, 24 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Christopher S. Ullmer, 22 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Peter F. Thao, 23 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances. He would rent out a hotel room and "sell multiple pounds of methamphetamine" from the room. Information uncovered during investigations in the Wausau area have helpedshut down other organizations outside Wisconsin, Parks said. "You're traveling and little do you know that right next to you, is a guy with a handgun and 50 pounds of meth.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Liebergen had a handgun in the waistband of his pants when he was arrested. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. DavidPoteat said. The investigator says this bust is having an impact. Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. More information on those is expected to be released at a later date. 1 person hospitalized after shooting at Peoria gas station, Anastasia to open Thursday night in Chandler, Heres the lineup for Arizona Broadway Theatres 2023-2024 season, TRENDING: Shes a tough kid: Avondale father says University of Idaho student killed fought her attacker. The complaint states the source had made multiple purchases from Liebergen in the past. Charges: Anoka residents busted with over 1,000 grams of meth. Agencies involved in the raid included the Sheriffs Department, Wisconsin Rapids and Port Edwards Police Department, and Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department. "This is the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the sheriff's office's history," Knight . So that just shows you the fact that it spiders out," says Kinnard. Officers seized the following during the hotel bust: --1 kilogram of tramadol (prescription narcotic for pain). Two weeks later, as police have sorted out their findings, Hobart-Lawrence police say the March arrest turns out to have been the largest drug bust the department has ever made. The Kwik Trip was on Freedom Road (CTH S) in Lawrence. The DEA does know where the load was destined to go but are not releasing that information at this time. The Kenosha Drug Operations Group (KDOG) then initiated an investigation to identify the source of narcotics. Duluth police say this is the largest drug bust in history for the region. Deputies also confiscated24grams of MDMA commonly known as the club drug "ecstasy" 64grams of hashish oil, 27grams of marijuana, 3.5grams of cocaine, illegally obtained prescription medication, drug paraphernalia and two guns. When we see a kilo of cocaine that's unusual for us here in Wisconsin but to see 65 pounds is highly unusual.. Wausau woman Lisa Xiong, 31, who went by the nickname "Nova," wasthe leader of the meth ring, according to court documents. Her, 61, Wausau:delivery of 3-10 grams of meth,delivery of 10-50 grams of meth as a habitual criminality repeater. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip. Operation Tranquilandia was led by the DEA in 1984. Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Kinnard says Liebergen had been selling drugs in hotels throughout the Northeast Wisconsin area. Drug task force officers who worked the largest meth bust in Northeast Wisconsin say the drugs came from the Mexico Drug Cartel and were trafficked from Missouri to Wisconsin. They had to revamp their strategy, which led to the successful end of this drug operation. They wouldn't release the man's name because the investigation is continuing, but Lt. Matt Ronk of the Brown County Drug Task Force said authorities believe the man intended to deal drugs in the county. of cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl (estimated street value of the seized cocaine is $4,000,000 $6,000,000). Liebergen obtained pounds of meth on several occasions dating back to spring. The federal government has made it a priority to go after distributors. The task force, formed in 2018, is made up of officers from the Marathon County and Lincoln County sheriff's offices, Wausau and Everest Metro police departments,Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigationand the FBI, Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks said. "Once we identified that source with that amount of methamphetamine that was supposed to hit the streets, they worked together to take action and apprehend that individual so that it didn't get to the streets," says Sheriff Delain. All of the following items were seized: Methamphetamine Cocaine Fentanyl LSD Marijuana. Joshua . jw. The department had seized 4.76 pounds in all of 2016. When officers arrived, they found the vehicle running and the person inside the car appeared to be asleep. tv. $120,000 of personal assets that were determined to be used in the distribution of illicit narcotics. He's also charged with possessing a gun in a drug trafficking crime. As a result of that investigation, a federal grand jury has returned an six-count indictment charging nine defendants with conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. The seizure of roughly 60 pounds of meth last monthput "a serious dent"in the supply of the drug in the region, Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said Tuesday night. Blader said the use of illegal drugs has become an epidemic in this country, with tens of thousands of people dying every year from overdoses. Liebergen agreed to an interview after his arrest. "This quantity was directed all over Northeast Wisconsin," says Sheriff Delain. "This quantity was directed all over Northeast Wisconsin," says Sheriff Delain. The caller said that the vehicle, which was occupied by one person, was parked at the gas pumps for over an hour. And I believe this could be one of the largest seizures of methamphetamine in the state of Wisconsin history. Tell us where we should look inside here. Drug investigators executed multiple search warrants in September 2019. Other major Wisconsin meth busts in recent years include: The seizure of 19 pounds in Manitowoc County this May. A law enforcement source said "roughly two rolling suitcases full" of methamphetamine transported from Missouri were seized from a guest's room at the Wingate by Wyndham on North Federated Drive in Grand Chute. Almost two tonnes of methamphetamine has been seized by Australian police - the biggest bust of the drug in the country's history. They searched the vehicle and found a Glock 9 mm handgun under the driver's seat, according to the affidavit. The value was. "I talked to a narcotics investigator from Kewaunee County, and he was telling me, immediately after us taking this off, he said, 'I can't buy meth because my people are telling me, oh, they took somebody off in Appleton.' Sheriff: Area meth bust could be largest in state history, 911 call turns fire drill at Xavier High School into shelter-in-place order, Milwaukee murder suspect captured after chase in Winnebago County, Prosecution moves to ban Grant Fuhrmans mother from the courtroom, Aaron Rodgers hopes to have decision sooner rather than later, Brown County Showcase of Homes starts spring tour, Public File Assistance Contact - (920) 432-3331. A further search of the vehicle turned up the following: --13.9 grams of marijuana (found in safe). 3 arrested in largest meth bust in La Crosse police history Nearly 11 pounds of meth with street value of $124,000 seized The arrest is detailed in documents filed in federal court. The driver of the trailer was identified as Samuel Serrano from California. Although Tranquilandia is referred to as a drug lab, it's actually much bigger. The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department said the county saw more than 40 fatal overdoses in 2021, primarily from fentanyl-laced narcotics. The Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, Brown County Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation worked together on the case. Par Y. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. TOWN OF SARATOGA, WI (WSAU) A large amount of cocaine, Ecstacy, fentanyl, and marijuana was seized as part of a drug bust in the Wood County Town of Saratoga late last week. The name of the suspect is reportedly being withheld, as it is an active investigation. After examining the bags police found 68-pounds of cocaine totaling an estimated $3 million in street value. Along with all the drugs, police also found $17,039 in cash and one gun with boxes of ammo. Police say the total value of the drugs came in at over $4.4 million. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized over $16,000 in cash and a large quantity of high-valued jewelry from the home. While searching the semi-trailer officers also found two methamphetamine pipes. 37-year-old Ricky Osborne of Rochester is believed to be one of the ring leaders of the operation. David Castillo-Lopez, 30,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. The caller reported a vehicle was parked at a gas pump for more than an hour. Live PD: Top 7 Biggest Money Busts | A&E A&E 9.28M subscribers Subscribe 93K Share 15M views 2 years ago #LivePD Stay up to date on all of A&E's premieres at http://aetv.com/schedule Check out. 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