PONCA CITY, Okla. – Several people were arrested following a year-long investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
Mark Woodward, OBN spokesperson, says agents and officers from several departments fanned out around 6:30 a.m. on Friday with 18 arrest warrants.
The alleged suspects were all accused of trafficking crystal methamphetamine into Ponca City.
“In January of 2014, OBN and local authorities began investigating a large drug trafficking ring in Ponca City. This group of defendants would import significant quantities of crystal methamphetamine or ‘ICE’ into Ponca City to supply local dealers and users,” said Woodward.
The year long investigation focused on nine people allegedly involved in a drug ring. According to the OBN, the ring sold up to a pound of crystal meth a week in Ponca city.
“The collaborative effort is at the highest level with Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Agents, local officers and prosecutors working shoulder to shoulder to investigate a group that has brought pounds of methamphetamine to the Ponca City area. This enforcement action will have a ripple effect for criminal drug violators throughout this area. The violators need to know that we are out there watching you, waiting for you, and will arrest you if you keep peddling your powdered destruction in our communities for economic gain,” said Darrell Weaver, OBN director.
As of 12 p.m. on Friday, seven of the 18 suspects had been taken into custody.
Of those arrested, four were members of the alleged drug ring.
“It’s not uncommon to not get everyone the first day,” said Woodward. “That’s not a concern to us because these are all locals, they don’t really have a place they can hide very long.”