Agents seize 958 lbs. of pot and 12,700 Xanax tablets

Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:16pm
By: The Citizen

tnt_958# weed_smaller for unsticky

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) concluded an investigation April 30 that resulted in a traffic stop on Ga. Highway 74 in Tyrone, according to TNT Lt. Jody Thomas. TNT Agents seized 958 pounds of Marijuana and arrested three persons, Thomas said.

The marijuana was discovered in the back of a van after a Fayette County K-9 alerted Deputies to the presence of the marijuana. As a result of the traffic stop Juan Luis Lopez, 32, of Riverdale, Jaime Ramirez, 35, of Modesto, Ca., and Oscar Lopez, 30, of McFarlen, Ca. were arrested and charged with trafficking marijuana. All three suspects are currently incarcerated in the Fayette County Jail, Thomas said.

In a second incident TNT Agents seized 12,700 Xanax tablets on Monday, April 27, according to Thomas. The Xanax was seized after agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Atlanta Field Division notified TNT Agents of a suspicious package at a local mail service in Fayetteville, said Thomas. Upon inspecting the package TNT Agents discovered the Schedule IV narcotic. The investigation is still on-going, he said.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team is a multi-agency unit under the command of the Sheriff of Fayette County. The unit consists of members of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Tyrone Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department and Peachtree City Police Department.

login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Submitted by mysteryman on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 11:48am.

NYCE, much of watched too much Miami Vice, and tried to do the deal in Tyrone....BLESS

Submitted by Dondol on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 10:43am.

When I was a teenager back in the mid 70s a friend of mine had a bumper sticker on his car and it read; Man Created Booze, God Created Grass, Whom do you Trust!
Something to ponder.

Obama's weapon of Choice!

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 6:52am.

It's McFarland. Take it from someone who knows a little bit about that area of California.
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


Submitted by daisyheadmaisy on Tue, 05/05/2009 - 8:29am.

In the scope of things, it doesn't really matter. Just as you may know what city the suspect hails from, so could others who just don't feel the need to post every correction they come across. jmo

Submitted by Hey on Tue, 05/05/2009 - 11:12am.

If it's in the article written by a Citizen reporter it should be pointed out.

wildfire's picture
Submitted by wildfire on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 4:32am.

Jody, you guys are doing a great job; keep up the good work!


redrooster's picture
Submitted by redrooster on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 6:34am.

If you only knew...


Submitted by Treading Water on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 12:50am.

Legalize some drugs, decriminalize others, regulate it and tax it to death like tobacco, alcohol and gasoline. This is a "war" that will never be won. Substance use (and abuse) dates back to the beginning of time. Purveying these substances is the second oldest profession (the oldest profession should also be legalized, regulated and taxed). This would solve all but the abuse issues, which are always going to be there anyway. It puts the abuse issues where they belong - out of the hands of the police / government and in the hands of communities, families and clergy. I am not a novice on this subject, as my younger brother is a 30 year addict, so we have dealt with this for a long time.

On the subject of taxes, it's time to eliminate income tax completely and establish a national sales tax, but that's another subject for another day...

redrooster's picture
Submitted by redrooster on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 7:10am.

I agree.
This country would save billions by not locking up nonviolent offenders,(who never violated another person's rights)
And would add billions with new tax revenue.
Our police could then focus their attention on crimes that violate other people's rights.
But this would upset the money flow so it will never happen meantime let's send the troops to Afghanistan to make sure that we have another bunker poppy crop so we get our "cut" of the action.


Submitted by Blah Blah on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 9:15am.

We must empty the jails of the innocent people who were put away because they enjoyed something that is same as beer and wine. Let us grow it legally and then no one will have to buy it. No more drug dealers. Let people who have gardens sell it to neighbors like we do tomatoes, corn and okra.

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 9:37am.

And what are you smoking?

...and then no one will have to buy it.

And followed by

...who have gardens sell it to neighbors...
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


Submitted by Bravo Sierra on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 12:30am.

Next time shoot them all and let God sort them out.

Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 8:36pm.

I for one despise what drugs and their culture have done to this country and how it has ruined many a life. So with my hatred of drugs and drug dealers I'm going to propose this novel idea.

These drugs should not be destroyed. Our Deputies need to sell these drugs on the street and compete against the replacement drugs that will brought in. Give the dealers a double whammy by putting a dent in their marketing capabilities.

Take the money and give us taxpayers a little tax break. (Lord knows we could use a break from gumament taxes.) Secondly take the bulk of those monies and purchase needed equipment and personnel to step up TNT's efforts and confiscate more drugs from the producers and dealers and then sell those too and eventually we'll have a law enforcement agency that is funded by the drug dealers themselves.

You see... this will work. Proof is that the more involved in business the government gets..... the more screwed up and less profitable the business gets. Eventually, just as the unions, unproductive employees and government mandates drive businesses offshore..... the drug industry will be driven out.

Build on the thought.... I threw out a concept.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic


Buckwheat Rules's picture
Submitted by Buckwheat Rules on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 10:07pm.

Honest to Christ, to suggest such an absurd notion as to allow to cops to re-sell this stuff on the street to compete against the drug pushers you must be either high as a kite, or in dire need of painkillers.

Why don't you suggest something logical like using our Federal or military resources like the ATF, US. Border Patrol, or National Guard to eclypse big shippments like this at our borders before they even make it into suburbia?


redrooster's picture
Submitted by redrooster on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 6:44am.

Who, because of smoking weed ever violated your rights?


Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 10:26pm.

Why don't you suggest something logical like using our Federal or military resources like the ATF, US. Border Patrol, or National Guard to eclypse big shippments like this at our borders before they even make it into suburbia?

Let's do this along with what I said. Eye-wink I'm all for securing our border. Hey...these clowns are going to buy this crap anyways. Why not mitigate the demand and keep the monies in the US instead of it inevitably going to Mexico.

Sorry you don't grasp that supply and demand concept.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic


Submitted by mysteryman on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 6:46pm.

You can keep the smokes.....PEACE

carbonunit52's picture
Submitted by carbonunit52 on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 8:00pm.

and give me that mulch for my garden.

It's not easy being the carbonunit


Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 8:38pm.

Mulch.... I see late night stops at Taco Bell and McDonalds in your future. Eye-wink

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic


carbonunit52's picture
Submitted by carbonunit52 on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 8:49pm.

I like my own cooking too much (and it shows), plus, I just got me a brand new hot air popcorn popper and some of that gourmet popcorn seed.

It's not easy being the carbonunit


Gene61's picture
Submitted by Gene61 on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 6:32pm.

We'll never win the war on drugs, we can only hope to slow down the trafficing at differnt times. As long as the demand and profit is there, someone will always find a way to keep the supply lines open

Look at Xanax, its in a lot of peoples homes, so the kids now steal it and sell it..

Drugs will be this nations down fall one day..


NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 7:41am.

Drugs will be this nations down fall one day.

Not being able to manage drugs(both legal and illegal)could well be the downfall of the country. How the US has handled drugs to this point is laughably stupid and has only created an enormous jobs program and money sinkhole that every year sees hundreds of billions of dollars wasted.

You take a culture that has been conditioned to believe a magic pill is the answer to any problem and a political atmosphere where lawmakers are obsessed with what you consume into your own body, and it's a train wreck. Add in the absurdity of a 21 year old drinking age and it's no wonder that people have little respect for the law when the "law" is asinine. We raise a generation of criminals with a 21 year old drinking law that was practically made to be broken.

The illegality of some drugs creates a wildly profitable black market that extends well beyond American borders, unlike Prohibition where that bit of stupidity was mostly American. Now, we have countries like Mexico, Colombia, Afghanistan, etc. getting in on the action too because the money is HUGE.

The solution is regulation and education, not dumping a zillion more dollars into the law enforcement industry. No country on this planet has the kind of drug problem the US has and it extends way beyond a desire by Americans to take drugs. The US created a system that makes the drug biz profitable enough that you will never stop new "businesses" from entering the marketplace. You create criminals out of drug users so they can't get get decent jobs and that puts a burden on the social welfare system. Law enforcement is ecstatic over all of this because it creates a ton of jobs and keeps the money flowing to them constantly. Plus, they get to keep some of the stuff they find when they arrest someone! Wheeee!

Stop the insanity already. Demand politicians who declare war on a system that is a tremendous waste of resources that has failed and will keep on failing and defies common sense.


Submitted by Treading Water on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 8:45am.

put forth in this thread. While I know there is opposition, I do believe that a majority of Americans are weary of the methods currently employed, and many would agree with the stances represented here...

SO - the BIG question is:

HOW DO WE CHANGE IT? I am tired of being a silent voice in the background speaking common sense to no one listening(except my dog). What steps do we have to take to make this vision a reality? And this is just the start of many other things we can make right (or at least better).

Someone tell me how. And don't say by exercising our votes. In a two (corrupt) party system, with officials elected based on who has the biggest war chest, and special interest lobbyists buying 90% of the legislation that gets passed, our votes don't mean S**T...

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 7:58pm.

Given the problems we are facing today I wonder if a more reasonable approach is doable. The only thing though, is how to control or minimize the bad and lasting effects of certain drugs. If that can be developed than possibly we can "rate" through manipulation/engineering of some drugs such as we do as alcohol through "proofing". As a layman I would think this is important since some drugs, due to how they react to the brain's synapses, can cause permanent damage in very small doses.

Now with all this said, I normally tend to advocate strict adherence to current drug laws but I'm slowly realizing that I might be wrong on the whole thing. I do hope we can come up with a solution and soon.

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 7:58am.

I'm curious, what should be the minimum drinking age?

And I can't buy an adult beverage on Sunday because.... well because Sonny says so. Smiling
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 10:01am.

I personally think 18 is reasonable. It amazes me that a 16 year old is supposedly mature enough to operate a motor vehicle and then a 18 year old can vote, serve in the military, get married,enter into contracts, but can't buy/drink/possess an alcoholic beverage until they are......21????

It should be left up to the states to decide in any event like it used to be until Reagan mandated a national 21 year old drinking age under the threat of cutting all federal highway funding to any state that refused to go along. So much for the silly notion that Ronnie was big on "states' rights." Lift that extortion from the Feds and I think you'd see the drinking age falling back down again in most states. Obviously, not in GA any time soon as it's infested with some real nanny-state lovers disguised as Repubs, but eventually they'll fade away into retirement and the replacements will be a little more into "live and let live."


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 7:38pm.

Should the BAC rates be the same for all age groups - 18 and above?

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 7:58pm.

I think it probably should be the same. BAC is affected by a person's weight and gender so I don't know if a tiered system based on age would be "fair." Ugh, hate that "f word."

States do set the BAC for what constitutes DUI/DWI and I really don't have a problem with the common .08 standard or even lower. Most other countries have very tough penalties for DUI and also MUCH lower rates of drunk driving too. Part of that is cultural (and better access to public transportation systems, they live/work/play in the same area nearby, etc.), but a significant part is that the penalties are very serious and it's been heavily frowned upon for a long time.


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 8:05pm.

I agree. In fact, I wouldn't mind a BAC in the .04 range. This will align with federal standards for those in safety sensitive transportation positions.
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


Submitted by AtHomeGym on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 12:46pm.

Nuk,you have certainly written some truth & fact here and I agree with it all. You've sure got the GA politicians pegged correctly too. Don't have the 'nads to just let us vote on Sunday sales--what wimps.

Submitted by Spyglass on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 10:25am.

and a social liberal. Oh the humanity!

And yes, I think 18 is fine for a drinking age.

NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 10:37am.

I really think most Americans fall into this category. There is a lot of money that flows to candidates who aren't. To get the big campaign cash and the political boost, one needs to either be diehard fiscal liberal or rigid social conservative. If you're both like a Mike Huckabee, you can even become a big mover and shaker in your political party even when that party is supposed to be based on the exact opposite, at least by any definition of "conservative" I know of.


redrooster's picture
Submitted by redrooster on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 6:25am.

This country is already in a downward spiral, We don't need drugs to make it worst in fact it would be worst without them.


Submitted by Spyglass on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 6:01pm.

Especially POT, is a war we can't win. I know it's a WAR that the Feds don't want to win.

Shoebox's picture
Submitted by Shoebox on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 5:20pm.

PreacherWoman


Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.