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Traffic stop leads to seizure of $3M worth of meth

Authorities in North Georgia said they disrupted a meth trafficking ring.

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.