Delaware County Officials Bust Meth-By-Mail, Cock-Fighting Ring

Delaware County authorities recovered more than five pounds of meth and about three pounds of marijuana.

What makes this case unique is investigators say the meth was sent through the mail, which now means the feds are involved.

The Delaware County Sheriff says when he ran for office, people asked him what he was going to do about all the drugs in the county. His response was not to focus on the small time user, but to focus on the big-time dealers. He believes this bust is the perfect example.

The sheriff's office, OBN agents, U.S. Postal inspectors and West Siloam Springs officers pulled up to a home just east of the small town of Colcord after they say a woman accepted delivery of a package sent to her through the mail that contained more than 5 pounds of meth, valued at $368,000.

"It's a fair amount of meth for sure," Sheriff Harlan Moore said. "We come across a lot of personal use in everyday work, but 5 and a quarter pounds of crystal methamphetamine is a big seizure."

The sheriff's office has been on this case for the past three weeks and after a federal search warrant, they made the bust.

Initially, one man took off running, which led to a short chase, but he was quickly captured.

As it turns out, deputies said he was there for a cock fight.

Investigators found a large cock-fighting operation in the backyard with roosters wearing blades and on leashes.

They also found a stolen gun.

They said you never know what you'll find during a raid.

"We have a lot of guns here, a lot of people own guns, so we're very cautious on any kind of call we go on, especially when it's drug related," Moore said.

And the crimes just kept piling up. While serving a search warrant on the house, investigators discovered about 3 pounds of hydro marijuana worth $26,000 and packaged to sell. They also found $10,000 in cash and eight more guns.

One man went to jail for cockfighting, drugs and weapons charges.

The sheriff said criminals think if they live in rural areas on dirt roads, they won't get caught.

"I don't care where you live in this county," Moore said. "If I find out about it or our detectives find out about it, we're gonna get you. I want to make that perfectly clear to those who live in Delaware County."

What happens to the woman they say took delivery of the drugs depends largely on how much cooperation she gives to agents and helps them get to those people higher up in the distribution chain.