Sheriff Shawn Becker says his team has been working with the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force and the Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation into the matter for several months, ending when a search warrant was executed on Thursday, December 9th. They had to revamp their strategy, which led to the successful end of this drug operation. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. "This quantity was directed all over Northeast Wisconsin," says Sheriff Delain. Liebergen used to live there. A conviction on that charge carries a minimumof five years in prison. The caller reported a vehicle was parked at a gas pump for more than an hour. Police say they tookthousands of dollars' worth of illicit drugs off the street, as well as four loaded handgunsand ammunition. al. Large Drug Bust Nets Over $130 Thousand in Illegal Drugs in Wood County. Liebergen also is charged with possessing a firearm while committing a drug-trafficking crime. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Meng Xiong, 26,Wausau:two counts of distributing meth with one count alleged to involve 5 grams or more. While they don't yet know the street value of the drugs, Police Chief Randy Bani said investigators believe between $20,000 to $30,000 of drugs were confiscated. That kilogram of Tramadol found in Liebergen's room? It's a prescription pain reliever that comes in pill form. The organization also had ties throughout the United States and Mexico, according to the sheriff's office. The next morning, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office announced the 34 arrests and the seizure of 3,164 pounds of methamphetamine the biggest drug bust in the county's history, and one of the largest ever in the nation. Because the task force works with state and federal officials, its investigations can cross state lines. The price of an ounce can range from $700 to $1,350. Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. The caller said that the vehicle, which was occupied by one person, was parked at the gas pumps for over an hour. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is between $132,000 and $142,000. According to police, officers seized. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Kwik Trip was on Freedom Road (CTH S) in Lawrence. A conviction on the trafficking charge could lead to a sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. Other major Wisconsin meth busts in recent years include: The seizure of 19 pounds in Manitowoc County this May. A pound can fetch up to $7,000. The 10-day sting is. wo pu xb. of cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl (estimated street value of the seized cocaine is $4,000,000 $6,000,000). Jan 26, 2022 0 Three people have been arrested what the La Crosse Police Department describes as the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the city's history. DaoThao, 39,St. Paul, Minnesota:possessing 50 grams or more of meth with intent to distribute. Information uncovered during investigations in the Wausau area have helpedshut down other organizations outside Wisconsin, Parks said. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized over $16,000 in cash and a large quantity of high-valued jewelry from the home. While searching the semi-trailer officers also found two methamphetamine pipes. The department also says Menards has no connection to the case and reported the incident to law enforcement right away. However, where exactly the load came from is still under investigation. The name of the suspect is reportedly being withheld, as it is an active investigation. Authorities say the suspects are part of a violent drug trafficking organization called the "Buffum Meinecke Boys," that operated in and around Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood on the city's. On Oct. 3, Ullmer's girlfriend was arrested in Oconto Falls. Kinnard says Liebergen had been selling drugs in hotels throughout the Northeast Wisconsin area. Although Tranquilandia is referred to as a drug lab, it's actually much bigger. The Wausau-area arrests were not connected to another major bust in northeastern Wisconsin involving nearly 60 pounds of meth found in suitcases at a hotel, according to Brown County. Liebergen had a handgun in the waistband of his pants when he was arrested. It's fortunate, police say, that someone made that telephone call. "This was the supply source for this part of Wisconsin.". He said police have seen theflow of drugs into the region increase in the past five years; the same improved highway system that make it so families can reach vacation destinations more quickly also makes it easier for drug sellers to reach customers in the region. Live PD: Top 7 Biggest Money Busts | A&E A&E 9.28M subscribers Subscribe 93K Share 15M views 2 years ago #LivePD Stay up to date on all of A&E's premieres at http://aetv.com/schedule Check out. GRAND CHUTE - A drug raid at anAppleton-area hotel has yielded what authorities call the largest methamphetamine bust in northeastern Wisconsin history, and could put a Kaukauna man behind bars for life. Inside the stash house, officers found 714,300 fentanyl pills, 3.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, six pounds of meth, 3.6 pounds of heroin and two pounds of cocaine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Other major Wisconsin meth busts in recent years include: The seizure of 19 pounds in Manitowoc County this May. "When he woke up, his hands came out of his pocket, and drug paraphernalia was visible.". KENOSHA/RACINE COUNTIES (WITI) -- More than 44 people face serious drug charges after a raid that covered Racine and Kenosha counties. By Mike Leischner Dec 12, 2021 | 8:04 AM. To the east, Langlade County had a large drug bust almost two weeks ago.. Down Highway 29 west, the Marshfield Police Department also had two larger-scale drug busts last weekend. In the bust, which occurred on Tuesday, authorities were able to seize, more than a pound of heroin and fentanyl, about two and a half pounds of methamphetamine, and two guns. It's like a plot straight out of the Netflix crime drama "Ozark." Serrano admitted to be a meth user. Appleton-area bust involving 'suitcases full' of methamphetamineis one of state's largest, Untraceable 'ghost guns' pose new worry for Green Bay-area police, threaten to serve as new currency in meth buys, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. rc Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an. 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Almost two tonnes of methamphetamine has been seized by Australian police - the biggest bust of the drug in the country's history. He drove from Missouri to Northeast Wisconsin to sell the meth to lower-level dealers. The Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, Brown County Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation worked together on the case. This big drug bust is similar to the others because it's linked to -- you guessed it -- cocaine. FOX 6 Now Milwaukee CLAM LAKE -- The war on drugs has a new battleground and it's deep in the heart of Wisconsin's great northwoods. A search of her vehicle turned up the following: --Loaded Smith & Wesson MP Shield 9mm handgun. Serrano has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. If you have any information, you are asked to call the taskforce tipline at 218-730-5750 or dial 911. Drugs, guns," says Lt. Kevin Kinnard, Brown County Drug Task Force. Par Y. After commemorating Recovery Month in September, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson says the dismantling of such a large drug organization is important in the fight against addiction. TOWN OF LAWRENCE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) A person falling asleep in a vehicle at a gas station led to the largest drug bust in Hobart/Lawrence history, police say. The Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, Brown County Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation worked together on the case. Eight others are charged in the conspiracy: Malachai J. Root, 29 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Wayne L. Stilen, 39 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Sally A. Miller, 35 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Jeremy M. Ludwig, 32 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Kayla R. Kennedy, 39 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Jasmine L. Gillette, 24 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Christopher S. Ullmer, 22 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Peter F. Thao, 23 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances. DavidPoteat said. The operation resulted in the seizure of the following: Officials say the investigation is still active. Joshua . The Grand Chute arrest was part of an investigation that included local police from departments in Outagamie, Brown and Winnebago counties, as well as the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "At the gram level, in Northeast Wisconsin, it would have been over $2 million at the end," says Kinnard. It was operating primarily in Wisconsin and Illinois. All rights reserved. Sheriff Becker adds that Wood County has seen 12 overdose deaths this year, and with the number of drugs taken off the street as a result of the raid it is likely that many lives were saved from an overdose. One of the warrants was executed at a Grand Chute hotel where defendant Derek A. Liebergen was alleged to be selling drugs. MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- In the biggest drug bust recorded in Mesa Police Department history, officers uncovered over 700,000 fentanyl pills and more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine earlier this month. If convicted, Xiong could face between 10 years and life in federal prison. Agencies involved in the raid included the Sheriffs Department, Wisconsin Rapids and Port Edwards Police Department, and Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department. "This quantity was directed all over Northeast Wisconsin," says Sheriff Delain. Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken says the shut down of this organization would not have been possible without the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies. 4.5 million fentanyl pills, 3,000 pounds of meth seized during joint drug bust Clark's buzzer-beating three sends #6 Iowa past #2 Indiana 86-85 Police are searching for a suspect after shots . Parks said Xiong's operation had the ability to move up to a pound of meth at a time in central Wisconsin. Authorities had not made the arrest public. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Officers seized the following during the hotel bust: --58 pound of meth --1 kilogram of tramadol (prescription. Mai Xiong, 32, Wausau:delivery of 10-50 grams of meth,party to the crimeas a habitual criminality repeater. Illegal drugs in hotels throughout the United States and Mexico, according to successful. 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