Overview
- Agents conducting Sept. 15–17 operations recovered meth from an apartment and a nearby residence in unincorporated DeKalb County after undercover purchases and surveillance.
- Searches yielded about 309 kilograms in the apartment, roughly 131 kilograms in the residence, additional kilograms in vehicles, one firearm, and approximately $12,000 in cash.
- Five Mexican nationals were charged on Sept. 19 with possession with intent to distribute and appeared in federal court Monday, with prosecutors noting four are alleged to be in the U.S. illegally.
- DEA says a primary trafficker was working on behalf of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and officials described Atlanta as a regional distribution hub rather than the drugs’ final destination.
- Investigators reported finding children under 10 at both locations and estimated the wholesale value at about $1.3 million and a potential street value near $5 million, as the multi-agency case proceeds under Operation Take Back America.