Oregon drug sweep nets more than dozen arrests in several cities

In an effort to make a bigger impact in America's war on drugs, many times a group of law enforcement agencies will combine efforts to catch many drug suspects at once. These multi-agency sweeps are typically very good for publicity because they result in seized drugs and a large number of mug shots, effectively demonstrating to the public that police are doing their jobs.

A recent sweep in Jackson County, Oregon, ended with the arrests of 15 people on felony drug charges. Operation Clear Green focused on a group of people accused of selling methamphetamine in several cities, including Medford, Eagle Point, White City and Central Point. After a year of investigating the suspect group, police had enough evidence to serve eight search warrants in these communities.

Police launched their investigation last year when a multi-agency law enforcement team dedicated to marijuana eradication pulled 1,000 plants from an outdoor growing operation. That team shared information with the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team, and the two groups found many of the same suspects in their separate investigations.

From there they gathered officers from surrounding communities' police departments, along with several federal agencies, in order to serve the warrants at locations tied to their drug trafficking suspects. The warrants produced methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, guns and cash that was believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

Although the massive raid was considered a success, any large drug bust has the potential to net suspects who turn out not to be guilty. Many times people who aren't involved in the manufacturing, possession or distribution of drugs are swept up, arrested and presumed guilty by association. Whether a suspect is guilty or not, an arrest shouldn't lead immediately to interrogation by police, but a call to a qualified criminal defense attorney who can begin working on the case immediately.

Source: OPB News, "Fifteen Arrested In Multi-Agency Drug Sweep," Chris Conrad, May 10, 2012