22 Indicted After 18-Month Federal Drug Conspiracy Probe

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) _ An 18-month, multistate probe yielded 22 indictments and the seizure of large quantities of drugs and cash, authorities said. <br/><br/>U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren said Tuesday

Wednesday, August 29th 2007, 7:21 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) _ An 18-month, multistate probe yielded 22 indictments and the seizure of large quantities of drugs and cash, authorities said.

U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren said Tuesday that at least 16 of the 22 people indicted were in custody. Most were from the Kansas City area.

The drugs _ mostly marijuana and cocaine _ originated largely in Mexico and were brought in for distribution in the Kansas City area, officials said.

``In years gone by, we've seen it go through on the interstate highway system,'' said Don Medrala, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency's office in Kansas City, Mo. ``This was going to stay here.''

DEA investigators in Minneapolis, Denver, Albuquerque, N.M., Tucson, Ariz., El Paso, Texas, Richmond, Va., Wichita and Orlando, Fla., took part in the probe, Melgren said.

Over the course of the investigation, dubbed ``Operation Loadrunner,'' authorities seized more than 48 pounds of cocaine and more than 2,500 pounds of marijuana, he said. The conspiracy netted more than $13 million for the ring, Melgren said, and authorities have seized more than $1 million.

Melgren said his office will seek to seize real estate and other property, valued around $12 million, in Kansas City, Kan., Kansas City, Mo., and Tucson, Ariz.

Each of those named in the indictment faces one conspiracy count. Several face charges of using a cellular phone in furtherance of drug trafficking, and some are charged with money laundering.