The Amarillo Police Department SWAT Team recently arrested four people for federal drug trafficking charges. The investigation involves surveillance, cross-country travel, and an undercover investigation. Law enforcement has been investigating the case since February 2018 after receiving an anonymous tip that two people were flying to California or Colorado to get narcotics and then shipping them back to their homes in Texas.
Another caller identified one of the alleged drug dealers by name, affirming that he would import drugs from California or Dallas. A narcotics agent gave U.S. Postal Inspectors a warning that narcotics trafficking could be happening through the mail. Investigators also found messages between the defendants related to drug distribution, money laundering, and traveling between California and Texas.
Throughout the investigation, the Postal Inspector seized eight different parcels containing narcotics shipped to various addresses. The parcels included Alprazolam (Xanax), THC products, and marijuana. One agent was able to buy 28 grams of psilocybin mushrooms directly from one of the defendants.
Illegal Narcotics Discovered During the Search Warrant
Investigators were able to obtain a federal search warrant for the home of one of the defendants. The search recovered an estimated 75 lb of THC and psilocybin edibles, 50 lb of raw marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags, and 120 grams of suspected psilocybin. They also found drug paraphernalia, including scales, a heat sealer, and $63,000 in U.S. dollars. One of the defendants was in possession of firearms and admitted to being a hired bodyguard.
Drug Trafficking Charges in Texas
In Texas, drug trafficking is the manufacturing or delivery of controlled substances. All drug trafficking charges are felonies that carry at least a year of prison time. Controlled substances are divided into different penalty classes by severity. The most dangerous controlled substances in group one are as follows:
-
Cocaine
-
Flunitrazepam
-
Heroin
-
Methamphetamine
-
Morphine
-
Opiates
-
Oxycodone
#BBD0E0
»