A 10 million Alaska-bound drug ring is busted and yields a massive amount of seizures and 8 offenders are arrested so far. This bust enlisted the help and knowledge of many different departments, across many different states. Federal agents from California, Arizona, and Texas helped prosecute this case of a massive amount of drugs heading to Alaska, with some already being sold there. This huge drug ring bust was also investigated by numerous federal agencies ranging from the FBI and the DEA. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S Immigrations and Customs Enforcement also had a heavy hand in the investigation. As for Alaska, the Alaska State Troopers as well as Anchorage, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport police were also involved with the investigation leading to Alaska’s huge drug bust.Federal authorities seized around 100 pounds of illegal drugs and arrested 8 offenders so far. More arrests will most likely be made in months to come. Among the nearly 100 pounds of drugs confiscated 50 pounds were of heroin, 38 pounds were of methamphetamine and another 11 pounds of heroin were found in a different location, but were tied to this drug ring. “Investigators found these kilograms of heroin hidden in a storage unit here in Anchorage along with an additional nine kilograms of heroin and various packaging materials,” prosecutors stated in a release. The value of these seized drugs total to a value ranging from $2.3 million at the wholesale level, to other drug rings or dealers or over $10 million if these drugs were sold on the street, for street value prices.

This huge drug ring was suspected from operating for at least a year. The drug ring had contacts in Alaska, California, Arizona, and Texas, commanding an extensive amount of collaboration between departments in each of these states. This ring was also tied to Mexico to launder their money outside the country. Authorities state they found a pattern in which location the drugs surfaced from, “As far as the meth side that was definitely California. The Texas side was more focused on heroin.”

Authorities also explained how the bust took place, “In two subsequent transactions, conspirators sold four and seven pounds of methamphetamine respectively to an Alaska undercover agent.”The offenders face a mandatory, minimum ten year prison term if convicted. With only 8 offenders arrested, they will most likely inform police of other offenders, to lessen their sentences. “This is a very, very substantial seizure, especially for a district like Alaska,” authorities boast. “This is a statement that if you’re going to traffic this amount of drugs in Alaska,” authorities warn, “we’re going to do something about it.” With this substantial drug bust under Alaska’s belt, some are wondering what else will unfold as the case continues.