25 people arrested in drug sweep

Tuesday, March 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) -- Twenty-five people in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas face drug and weapons charges after their arrest in what authorities describe as the most significant drug bust in the history of joint operations in the three states.

The arrests Monday were the result of Operation Renegade, a joint investigation into drug manufacturing and trafficking in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma. The investigation began two years ago and involved more than a dozen federal and state agencies.

Methamphetamine was the predominant drug seized, said Joseph Corcoran, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge. He compared the operation to a drug cartel.

Officials executed 14 search warrants and arrested 25 people on drug, gun and money laundering charges. Officials seized 40 weapons, including grenades and an unknown amount of methamphetamine.

The arrests followed the indictment of 22 people by a federal grand jury in Topeka and three people by a federal grand jury in Tulsa, Okla.

The various charges included conspiracy; the manufacture, distribution and possession of methamphetamine; possession of stolen weapons; and money laundering.