LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities in North Georgia said they disrupted a methamphetamine trafficking ring Friday.
The GBI said a traffic stop led to the seizure of 15 kilograms of meth.
During the subsequent investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at a home in Dahlonega, where they said they and found a few grams of cocaine and $166,000.
Agents continued to follow leads and found a conversion lab on Cooper Creek Road in Suches, where they said liquid meth was being converted to its crystal form.
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Agents found a handgun and 15 kilograms of crystal meth. Officials said the street value of the 30 total kilograms of meth is an estimated $3,234,000.
Angel Luis Rivera-Santiago, 42, of Norcross, Victor Rafael Aponte, 30, of Dahlonega, and Valentine Duarte-Vejar, 25, of Dahlonega, were charged with trafficking methamphetamine. Eleoncio Perez-Pineda, 29, of Dahlonega, and Jose Mario Duarte-Vejar, 25, of Dahlonega were later arrested in Dahlonega and charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
The bust was a combined effort between the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office and the FBI’s North Georgia Major Offender Squad.
Cox Media Group