He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. 60 pounds? Drugs, guns," says Lt. Kevin Kinnard, Brown County Drug Task Force. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, 48 Kilograms (106 lbs.) And then he made a connection there to a cartel source, direct back into Mexico," says Kinnard. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized over $16,000 in cash and a large quantity of high-valued jewelry from the home. A quantity of illegal drugs will sell for significantly more in Upper Michigan than in northeastern Wisconsin, Ronk said. They searched the vehicle and found a Glock 9 mm handgun under the driver's seat, according to the affidavit. Parks said Xiong's operation had the ability to move up to a pound of meth at a time in central Wisconsin. It was operating primarily in Wisconsin and Illinois. While searching the semi-trailer officers also found two methamphetamine pipes. He has entered not guilty pleas to the charges. The 14 tons of cocaine were owned by the AUC and guarded by the Marxists. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is between $132,000 and $142,000. It's a large amount of methamphetamine. This may be the biggest meth bust in American. A further search of the vehicle turned up the following: --13.9 grams of marijuana (found in safe). "It's not about drugs. What was going to be sold? Officers "had to wake the guy up," Hobart-Lawrence Police Chief Randy Bani said. Sheriff Ron Cramer says this will go down as one of the largest seizures for cocaine in the area, This is the single largest seizure for us, actually, he explained. Nine people have been arrested as part of that investigation. Duluth police say this is the largest drug bust in history for the region. Rugers and Glocks. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. The drug haul was destined for Brown County, and would likely have been sold locally, police said. A search of her vehicle turned up the following: --Loaded Smith & Wesson MP Shield 9mm handgun. In this case, it was a powder. "He was living in the St. Louis area, so that's his connection. The department had seized 4.76 pounds in all of 2016. Police caught up with Liebergen at a Grand Chute hotel. On Oct. 3, Ullmer's girlfriend was arrested in Oconto Falls. 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. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, in February of 2021, deputies responded to a narcotics overdose investigation in the Village of Salem Lakes. Biggest drug bust in Mesa PD history: 700K+ fentanyl pills, 15 lbs of hard drugs found. DaoThao, 39,St. Paul, Minnesota:possessing 50 grams or more of meth with intent to distribute. 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. 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 task force used confidential informants, undercover officers, surveillance, covert cameras and wiretapsto investigate the distribution ring, court documents state. and last updated 2:32 PM, Feb 27, 2023. MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- In the biggest drug bust recorded in Mesa Police Department history, officers uncovered over 700,000 fentanyl pills and more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin and . Among the. An investigation started which apparently lead to the largest drug bust in Hobart/Lawrence history. Sheriff Ron Cramer says this will go down as one of the largest seizures for. 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 source told officers that Liebergen was going to be in the area on Sept. 11 with a large amount of meth. PHOENIX Arizona authorities targeting the Sinaloa Drug Cartel have seized narcotics they estimate are worth more than $13 million, including more than 4 . Such a vehiclecan retail for between $28,000 and $35,000 in this region, depending on mileage and condition. However, where exactly the load came from is still under investigation. Action 2 News is working to obtain all of the complaints and affidavits. 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. Sheriff Shawn Becker says his team has been working with the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force and the Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation into the matter for several months, ending when a search warrant was executed on Thursday, December 9th. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip. The 10-day sting is. Police said the man brought $20,000 to $30,000 worth of drugs into the county, though the value of the substances could reach much higher depending how it is packaged and distributed. Charges: Anoka residents busted with over 1,000 grams of meth. Duluth Police say they were ready to take down the organization back in March, but the pandemic put a pause on their plan. An investigation started which apparently lead to the largest drug bust in Hobart/Lawrence history. The DEA does know where the load was destined to go but are not releasing that information at this time. Police say they tookthousands of dollars' worth of illicit drugs off the street, as well as four loaded handgunsand ammunition. rc Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an. When we see a kilo of cocaine that's unusual for us here in Wisconsin but to see 65 pounds is highly unusual.. Kinnard says Liebergen had been selling drugs in hotels throughout the Northeast Wisconsin area. A source tipped off the drug task force that Liebergen was bringing drugs into Northeast Wisconsin and selling them out of hotel rooms. A meth bust earlier this month in the Wausau area, however, is not related to the Gran Chute case, authorities said. 4.5 million fentanyl pills, 3,000 pounds of meth seized during joint drug bust Clark's buzzer-beating three sends #6 Iowa past #2 Indiana 86-85 Police are searching for a suspect after shots . Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken says the shut down of this organization would not have been possible without the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies. Police say on Nov. 9, a traffic stop led to police searching an apartment near Country Club and University drives. The investigation was conducted by theCentral Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Derek A. Liebergen, 26, of Kaukauna, is charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a felony, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. 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. Other major Wisconsin meth busts in recent years include: The seizure of 19 pounds in Manitowoc County this May. Commander Domenico Napolitano, head of the financial police for the city of Naples, told CNN . The Kenosha Drug Operations Group (KDOG) then initiated an investigation to identify the source of narcotics. Authorities in Germany and Belgium seized more than 23,000 kilograms (50,700 pounds) of cocaine, worth billions of dollars, in an international operation that resulted in one arrest, officials . At this point, only the Liebergen and Ullmer affidavits have been filed on federal court records. Information uncovered during investigations in the Wausau area have helpedshut down other organizations outside Wisconsin, Parks said. In the bust, which occurred on Tuesday, authorities were able to seize, more than a pound of heroin and fentanyl, about two and a half pounds of methamphetamine, and two guns. Liebergen had a handgun in the waistband of his pants when he was arrested. It is making sure we are stopping the flow of whats coming in and trying to decrease the access people have to these chemicals that can alter their lives and the lives of the people in their families, said Larson. She has not been publicly identified. Posted 8 Jun 2021 8 Jun 2021 Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 6:25am , updated . The value of the seizure at that time was around $350 million which is the equivalent to $415 million in today's money. That turned up the following: --Alprazolam pills (panic/anxiety medication), --Drug ledgers with names, dollar amounts and dates. In 1995, the US Coast Guard carried out a huge drug bust off the coast of Peru, which at the time was the biggest drug bust on the high seas, though it would soon be topped. Liebergenwas taken into custody at the hotel on Sept. 11, and formally charged on Sept. 16, court records show. Agencies involved in the raid included the Sheriffs Department, Wisconsin Rapids and Port Edwards Police Department, and Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department. Police said the man's "stash" includedsignificant amounts of cocaine, as well asmethamphetamine, fentanyl, LSD, marijuana, heroin,drug paraphernalia and about $50,000 in cash. Ya Yang, 31, Wausau:conspiring to distribute meth. Inside the stash house, officers found 714,300 fentanyl pills, 3.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, six pounds of meth, 3.6 pounds of heroin and two pounds of cocaine. RACINE - Authorities arrested eight suspected major drug traffickers and seized more than $60,000 worth of drugs in what law enforcement called one of the biggest drug busts in Racine County history. Investigators said the bust is the largest drug haul in the world in terms of both value and quantity. 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. A search warrant was executed at Ullmer's home in Oconto Falls. A conviction on that charge carries a minimumof five years in prison. Ronk said a gram of cocaine can sell for about $100, while an ounceof the stimulantcan fetch between $1,300 and $1,800 depending on how pure it is, where it is soldand other factors. Chai Thao, 34,Wausau:two counts of distributing meth with one count alleged to involve 50 grams or more. Tell us where we should look inside here. On Sept. 9, investigators met with a confidential source who had purchased "large quantities of methamphetamine" from Liebergen. Authorities had not made the arrest public. He stated his intent was to sell the meth to pay off a drug debt to his supplier, according to the complaint. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider. A search of her vehicle turned up the following: --Loaded Smith & Wesson MP Shield 9mm handgun. He funneled pounds of meth from Missouri to Northeast Wisconsin, according to investigators. David Castillo-Lopez, 30,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. Officers seized the following during the hotel bust: --1 kilogram of tramadol (prescription narcotic for pain). 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. Federal charges have been filed against a man accused of selling large quantities of meth out of a hotel room in Grand Chute. An affidavit for Ullmer's arrest states that on Oct. 1, police officers pulled Ullmer over in Green Bay. Drug investigators executed multiple search warrants in September 2019. And I believe this could be one of the largest seizures of methamphetamine in the state of Wisconsin history. Warm weather thinning ice ahead of sturgeon spearing, Kewaunee 4-H club wins Cedar Crest Ice Cream contest, Weyauwega derailment memories resurface after Ohio, More from WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton, Semi ends up on its side on I-41 near FDL County, FDL man arrested, held on 10 counts of Child Pornography, Police in WI warns community of fake money, Milwaukee homicide suspect arrested in Winnebago, USPS to buy 9K electric vehicles, 14K charging stations, Missing Kimberly man found, returned safely home, Drug task force in Wisconsin finds nearly $120k in, WI man sentenced for failing to pay IRS employment, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Large amount of prescription medications and designer pills. The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department said the county saw more than 40 fatal overdoses in 2021, primarily from fentanyl-laced narcotics. yp. Can I legally marry my cousin in Wisconsin? A federal grand jury in Green Bay has indicted nine people in the drug conspiracy--believed to be one of the largest in state history. It's whatever you can make a buck on, so they'll sell whatever they can sell. He's also charged with possessing a gun in a drug trafficking crime. The caller said that the vehicle, which was occupied by one person, was parked at the gas pumps for over an hour. Meng Xiong, 26,Wausau:two counts of distributing meth with one count alleged to involve 5 grams or more. A federal. The value was. KENOSHA/RACINE COUNTIES (WITI) -- More than 44 people face serious drug charges after a raid that covered Racine and Kenosha counties. Appleton-area bust involving 'suitcases full' of methamphetamineis one of state's largest, Untraceable 'ghost guns' pose new worry for Green Bay-area police, threaten to serve as new currency in meth buys, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider. On Sept. 9, investigators met with a confidential source who had purchased "large quantities of methamphetamine" from Liebergen. Serrano has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. All of the following items were seized: Methamphetamine Cocaine Fentanyl LSD Marijuana. The Kwik Trip was on Freedom Road (CTH S) in Lawrence. The complaint says on April 10th police were called to the Menards Distribution Center in Eau Claire where employees found suspicious items in a semi-trailer. A pound can fetch up to $7,000. Authorities said they could not discuss specifics of the investigation. The operation resulted in the seizure of the following: Officials say the investigation is still active. FOX 6 Now Milwaukee CLAM LAKE -- The war on drugs has a new battleground and it's deep in the heart of Wisconsin's great northwoods. Additionally, about $50,000 U.S . Three Anoka residents were arrested and charged in connection with a suspected major drug distribution ring. Along with all the drugs, police also found $17,039 in cash and one gun with boxes of ammo. Their K-9, Rika . 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. 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. 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. Suitcases full of drugs. of cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl (estimated street value of the seized cocaine is $4,000,000 $6,000,000). If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. After examining the bags police found 68-pounds of cocaine totaling an estimated $3 million in street value. So that just shows you the fact that it spiders out," says Kinnard. The arrest is detailed in documents filed in federal court. In that case, more than a dozen people have been charged in connection with the sale of meth that had been brought to Wisconsin from California. The Grand Chute arrest was part of an investigation that included local police from departments in Outagamie, Brown and Winnebago counties, as well as the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Soua Khang, 23, Wausau:conspiring to distribute meth,three counts of distributing meth. TORONTO -. Cartel connection: tracing meth from Missouri to Northeast Wisconsin hotels, 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. 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. Liebergen also is charged with possessing a firearm while committing a drug-trafficking crime. They searched the vehicle and found a Glock 9 mm handgun under the driver's seat, according to the affidavit. He would rent out a hotel room and "sell multiple pounds of methamphetamine" from the room. 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