TERRELL, Texas — Three Terrell, Texas, homes were seized as part of a multi-state prescription drug investigation led by the Shelby County, Tennessee, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA).
TERRELL, Texas — Three Terrell, Texas, homes were seized as part of a multi-state prescription drug investigation led by the Shelby County, Tennessee, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA).
“Members of the Shelby County HIDTA Task Force initiated a two-year investigation on two separate drug trafficking organizations operating in the Gulf Coast HIDTA area,” stated a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee. “These drug trafficking organizations were responsible for distributing large amounts of Dilaudid and oxycodone pills, which are narcotic pain relievers.”
“In total, 56 individuals were arrested in this multi-jurisdictional investigation. Agents in Tennessee seized 1,282 oxycodone pills, 990 Dilaudid pills, 1,704 hydrocodone pills, 476 alprazolam pills, 313 Adderall pills, and 375 Dexedrine pills. Agents also seized $46,281 in U.S. currency, $231,269.82 in financial instruments, and three residences, valued at $300,000, in Terrell, Texas,” stated the release.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not specify how the homes were being used and no arrests were reported as a result of the seizures and investigation in Terrell, Texas.
The 56 individuals arrested were in Los Angeles, California; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Memphis, Tennessee. In Tennessee, 14 individuals were indicted federally and 27 were indicted on state charges. In Arkansas, 15 individuals were indicted on federal charges.
The investigation revealed the two drug trafficking organizations were distributing 250,000 oxycodone and Dilaudid pills annually.
The Shelby County HIDTA received the 2014 national award for Outstanding Prescription Drug Investigative Effort earlier this week for their work dismantling the two drug trafficking organizations.
The Shelby County HIDTA consists of members from the following agencies: Drug Enforcement Administration – Memphis Resident Office; Memphis Police Department; Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Millington Police Department; Bartlett Police Department; Germantown Police Department; Collierville Police Department; Tipton County Sheriff’s Department; the Attorney General’s Office for the 25th Judicial District; and the Attorney General’s Office for the 30th Judicial District.
