Drug busts signal continued heroin rise in Metro Atlanta
Federal agents yesterday seized 86 pounds of heroin, 2 pounds of crystal meth, more than $2 million as well as an assault rifle and handgun said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
As part of the seizure, federal agents arrested three people in Duluth believed to be members of the Mexican cartel known as La Familia. The DEA’s Special Agent in charge of the Atlanta office calls yesterday’s busts the largest he’s seen in the area. It’s also the latest example of a rise in heroin trafficking in Metro Atlanta.
Yesterday’s busts are the result of an investigation that started last August. In that investigation, the DEA seized 77 pounds of heroin.
“As far as I know, that was the largest seizure we had ever had of heroin here in the Atlanta area,” said special agent Harry Sommers. “This is even larger. Same organization.”
Sommers said his office received a tip from state and local law enforcement. Acting on that tip, he said agents raided two properties where they made the arrests and seizures. Officials estimate the street value of the drugs at $5 million.
Over the last seven years, Sommers said his office has made fewer cocaine busts but seized more pharmaceutical drugs and heroin. He said there’s a correlation between the illegal sale and abuse of pain pills and heroin.
“Heroin is being marketed to pain medication abusers as cheaper, available alternative that is almost structurally the same and affects the body almost exactly the same,” said Sommers.
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