Authorities Dismantle Large Meth-Trafficking Ring In Woodward County

Following a year-long investigation, authorities dismantled a large methamphetamine-trafficking ring and arrested more than 20 suspects Wednesday morning throughout northwestern Oklahoma.

According to Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) Spokesman Mark Woodward, OBN agents and officers from several departments fanned out around 6 a.m. Wednesday, armed with 39 arrest warrants for suspects accused of selling meth in Woodward, Oklahoma, and the surrounding area. 

“In August of 2014, OBN and local authorities began investigating a large meth trafficking network in Woodward County. This group of defendants would sell significant quantities of crystal methamphetamine or ‘ICE’ in or around the community of Woodward, Oklahoma,”  said Mark Woodward, OBN Spokesman.

Mark Woodward said these suspects would ship and distribute between a half-pound to a full pound of meth into Woodward on a weekly basis. Woodward said the meth is sourced out of Mexico.  Some of the suspects claim to have ties to the “Mexican Mafia.”  

Authorities said most of the 39 defendants arrested on Wednesday live in Woodward.  Others live in rural areas of Woodward County.  OBN Director Darrell Weaver said it is vital for his agency to remove these criminal drug elements from communities.

“Methamphetamine trafficking, distribution, and use doesn’t discriminate.  It impacts and destroys lives in both urban and rural Oklahoma. It takes law enforcement in a cooperative manner to dismantle these groups that will devour our communities with addictive substances.  We must never grow weary in our plight against meth traffickers, and we’ll continue to fight for the law abiding and good citizens of Woodward and all towns across our state," OBN Director Darrell Weaver said.                         

The investigation into this meth trafficking operation involved OBN, Woodward Police Department, Mooreland Police Department, Dewey County Sheriff’s Department, and the District 26 Drug Task Force.  As of noon on Wednesday, 26 of the 39 suspects were in custody. Those arrested on Wednesday were transported to the Woodward County Jail.  They face a variety of charges, including trafficking, distribution and possession of controlled dangerous substances (CDS.)