John Gates, 49, Hewitt:conspiring to distribute meth, two counts of attempting to possess the drug with intent to distribute. The affidavit for Ullmer's arrest states that on Oct. 1, police officers pulled Ullmer over in Green Bay. The investigation continues as authorities are still searching for about ten other individuals with active warrants for their arrests related to this drug trafficking ring. 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. Biggest drug bust in wisconsin. Police said the man brought $20,000 to $30,000 worth of drugs into the county, though the value of the substances could reach much higher depending how it is packaged and distributed. The DEA does know where the load was destined to go but are not releasing that information at this time. Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug . He admitted to traveling from Missouri to Wisconsin with meth. An affidavit for Ullmer's arrest states that on Oct. 1, police officers pulled Ullmer over in Green Bay. 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. 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. Kai Chang, 28,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. It was operating primarily in Wisconsin and Illinois. The complaint says on April 10th police were called to the Menards Distribution Center in Eau Claire where employees found suspicious items in a semi-trailer. The federal government has made it a priority to go after distributors. The caller said that the vehicle, which was occupied by one person, was parked at the gas pumps for over an hour. He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. "This quantity was directed all over Northeast Wisconsin," says Sheriff Delain. Some of the defendants also face federal gun charges. Derek A. Liebergen, 26, of Kaukauna, is charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a felony, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. The organization also had ties throughout the United States and Mexico, according to the sheriff's office. On Sept. 9, the Brown County Drug Task Force arrested defendant Malachi Root in Green Bay. The investigation was conducted by theCentral Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. 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. Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said Wednesday. Approximately $50,000+ of recovered property stolen from the area. Serrano has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Among the. Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. A federal criminal complaint obtained by Action 2 News shows Derek A. Liebergen is accused of possession with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of "a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.". Home / Legal News / Overdose investigation leads to large drug bust in Wisconsin Overdose investigation leads to large drug bust in Wisconsin KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value up to $6 million. 3 arrested in largest meth bust in La Crosse police history Nearly 11 pounds of meth with street value of $124,000 seized The Kwik Trip was on Freedom Road (CTH S) in Lawrence. A 20-year-old woman was arrested in that incident, sheriff's officials said. Action 2 News is working to obtain all of the complaints and affidavits. Followher on Twitter @brophy_natalie or Facebook at facebook.com/bynataliebrophy. Her next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. It's a large amount of methamphetamine. . It took a substantial effort by each and every one of them, and the sacrifices that go with it to be able to have a day where we made a substantial dent into the supply of poison that are reaching our streets, said Tusken. Warm weather thinning ice ahead of sturgeon spearing, Kewaunee 4-H club wins Cedar Crest Ice Cream contest, Weyauwega derailment memories resurface after Ohio, More from WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton, Semi ends up on its side on I-41 near FDL County, FDL man arrested, held on 10 counts of Child Pornography, Police in WI warns community of fake money, Milwaukee homicide suspect arrested in Winnebago, USPS to buy 9K electric vehicles, 14K charging stations, Missing Kimberly man found, returned safely home, Drug task force in Wisconsin finds nearly $120k in, WI man sentenced for failing to pay IRS employment, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Large amount of prescription medications and designer pills. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, in February of 2021, deputies responded to a narcotics overdose investigation in the Village of Salem Lakes. They searched the vehicle and found a Glock 9 mm handgun under the driver's seat, according to the affidavit. Duluth police Lt. Jeff Kazel, commander of the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force announces the results of what authorities said was the largest drug bust in the region's history. Their K-9, Rika . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. LAWRENCE - It started as a guy sleeping at the wheel of an SUV at a southern Brown County Kwik Trip around midnight. All rights reserved. The source told police that Liebergen would travel from out of state to the Appleton area with a large amount of meth. Liebergen agreed to an interview after his arrest. A search warrant was executed for Liebergen's hotel room in Grand Chute. 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. Authorities say they recovered crack, heroin and illegal guns . The Missouri connection? Agencies involved in the raid included the Sheriffs Department, Wisconsin Rapids and Port Edwards Police Department, and Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department. Police say the total value of the drugs came in at over $4.4 million. It's fortunate, police say, that someone made that telephone call. They wouldn't release the man's name because the investigation is continuing, but Lt. Matt Ronk of the Brown County Drug Task Force said authorities believe the man intended to deal drugs in the county. Authorities said they could not discuss specifics of the investigation. "It's just kind of very brazen for sure," says Kinnard. Serrano admitted to be a meth user. Colombian police seized a haul of cocaine found on the Mira River that was one of the biggest seizures of this drug ever in the world. The complaint states the source had made multiple purchases from Liebergen in the past. Charges: Anoka residents busted with over 1,000 grams of meth. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is between $132,000 and $142,000. Authorities in Germany and Belgium seized more than 23,000 kilograms (50,700 pounds) of cocaine, worth billions of dollars, in an international operation that resulted in one arrest, officials . Deputies also confiscated24grams of MDMA commonly known as the club drug "ecstasy" 64grams of hashish oil, 27grams of marijuana, 3.5grams of cocaine, illegally obtained prescription medication, drug paraphernalia and two guns. In 1995, the US Coast Guard carried out a huge drug bust off the coast of Peru, which at the time was the biggest drug bust on the high seas, though it would soon be topped. RELATED: 60 pounds? of cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl (estimated street value of the seized cocaine is $4,000,000 $6,000,000). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Liebergen had a handgun in the waistband of his pants when he was arrested. Drug task force officers point to 26-year-old Derek Liebergen as the leader of the operation. Kristie Ann Wallace was arrested as part of the raid and will have several unspecified charges against her forwarded to the Wood County District Attorney. Something that we've never seen up here in this type of quantity," says Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain. m. 158 people will eventually be charged with drug trafficking, according to Wood County Sheriff Tom Reichert. The seizure of roughly 60 pounds of meth last monthput "a serious dent"in the supply of the drug in the region, Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said Tuesday night. He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. 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. Large Drug Bust Nets Over $130 Thousand in Illegal Drugs in Wood County. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized over $16,000 in cash and a large quantity of high-valued jewelry from the home. Sixteen people charged with drug crimes after meth investigation in Wausau area, 'Suitcases full' of methamphetamineseized in Appleton area, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "So honestly, they probably thought they were buying heroin or fentanyl and got Tramadol," says Kinnard. Two weeks later, as police have sorted out their findings, Hobart-Lawrence police say the March arrest turns out to have been the largest drug bust the department has ever made. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Duluth police say this is the largest drug bust in history for the region. Because the task force works with state and federal officials, its investigations can cross state lines. Police say on Nov. 9, a traffic stop led to police searching an apartment near Country Club and University drives. Nearly 50 people are now being charged after a year-long investigation focused in Duluth, Rochester, and on the Iron. One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. and last updated 4:15 PM, Jan 21, 2022 KENOSHA, Wis. A Kenosha County overdose investigation uncovered nearly $4 million worth of narcotics from a drug trafficking organization. One of the warrants was executed at a Grand Chute hotel where defendant Derek A. Liebergen was alleged to be selling drugs. Can I legally marry my cousin in Wisconsin? Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, 48 Kilograms (106 lbs.) A federal. Someone notified sheriff's dispatchers that the driver of a car at the station appearedto have been asleep at thegas pumps for roughly an hour. 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. On Oct. 3, Ullmer's girlfriend was arrested in Oconto Falls. Someone would book the room for Liebergen so there was no trace back to him. Operation Tranquilandia was led by the DEA in 1984. Investigators found a large number of drugs including over 310 mg of cocaine and over 300 Ecstasy pills. "When you're talking this large, this ties back to cartels," the sheriff continues. The bust resulted in a confiscation of 10 tons of cocaine, which was worth around $1.2 billion at the time. al. "At the gram level, in Northeast Wisconsin, it would have been over $2 million at the end," says Kinnard. While the arrest was good news for law enforcement in Hobart and elsewhere in Brown County, Bani doesn't pretend thatthis arrest will make the use of illicit drugs in the region go away. Pounds of meth found in a hotel room. 37-year-old Ricky Osborne of Rochester is believed to be one of the ring leaders of the operation. A quantity of illegal drugs will sell for significantly more in Upper Michigan than in northeastern Wisconsin, Ronk said. The value was. At a news conference Thursday, Duluth police officials said they worked with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to seize roughly 1,207 grams of meth and 527 grams of heroin and. Students Gather For 8th Annual "I Love To Read" Event, Coffee Conversation: Singing With The Stars Happening Friday, Award And Author Event Supporting Duluth Public Library, Northland Happenings, Weekend of February 24, 2023. That kilogram of Tramadol found in Liebergen's room? Police caught up with Liebergen at a Grand Chute hotel. Kinnard says Liebergen had been selling drugs in hotels throughout the Northeast Wisconsin area. Police also confiscated the 2019 Ford Explorer the man had been driving. A federal grand jury charged 12 people eight from Wausau, one from Hewittand three from St. Paul, Minnesota in connection withthe distribution ring. Appleton-area bust involving 'suitcases full' of methamphetamineis one of state's largest, RELATED:Untraceable 'ghost guns' pose new worry for Green Bay-area police, threaten to serve as new currency in meth buys. "He was living in the St. Louis area, so that's his connection. 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