News Releases
LARGEST ICE SEIZURE IN ATLANTA AREA UNDER INVESTIGATION
March 09, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Sherri Strange, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, announce that DEA agents acting together with local law enforcement officers have made a record seizure of 174 pounds of suspected crystal methamphetamine (“ice”) and approximately $1 million in cash from two residences located in the Atlanta area.
Agents acting as part of an ongoing investigation performed the seizure late Monday evening from two residences located in Lawrenceville. VICTORIANO VEGA JIMINEZ, a/k/a “Jose Raul Hernandez,” a/k/a "Pajaro," 42, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has been arrested on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed this afternoon, agents watched VEGA attempt to deliver five pounds of suspected “ice” methamphetamine to a residence in Duluth, Georgia, on March 7, 2005. The agents arrested VEGA and seized the suspected drugs. According to the complaint, the agents searched VEGA’s vehicle and found a suspected drug ledger for the period of February 19, 2005, to March 6, 2005, that appears to show the distribution of approximately 134 pounds of “ice” methamphetamine and the collection of approximately $766,000 in payments for the drugs. The complaint states that the agents also found that VEGA’s vehicle was equipped with two hidden compartments that are activated electronically and typically used to hide drugs and money.
The complaint states that, after VEGA’s arrest, the agents searched two residences located in Lawrenceville that are associated with VEGA. At the first residence, agents found approximately 169 pounds of suspected “ice” methamphetamine and $80,000 located in two vehicles parked at the house. The complaint states that, inside the house, agents discovered approximately $700,000 in cash hidden in a false compartment in a wooden chest, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and two loaded semi-automatic handguns, and more suspected drug ledgers that agents believe to show the recent distribution of hundreds of pounds of “ice” methamphetamine and the collection of more than $6,000,000 as payments for the drugs.
The complaint states that, at the second residence, the agents discovered approximately $150,000 in cash. The complaint states that agents also searched a safety deposit box associated with VEGA and seized another $200,000 in cash.
At a news conference this afternoon at DEA offices announcing today’s criminal complaint and the related seizure, United States Attorney David Nahmias and Special Agent In Charge Sherri Strange stressed that this is an ongoing investigation and that there were many elements of the case that cannot be addressed publicly, but noted that this is the second major seizure of ice in the Atlanta area in less than six weeks.
Special Agent In Charge Sherri Strange said, “DEA’s message to the public about the onslaught of methamphetamine and ice in metropolitan Atlanta is unfortunately exemplified with this seizure. This seizure is the largest ice seizure on record for the East Coast and ranks 15th overall in the nation. The gravity of the situation must not be underestimated. I cannot emphasize enough the extreme danger of using methamphetamine and especially ice. DEA and our partners in law enforcement will not rest until we stop the inflow of this dangerous poison.”
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said, “This record seizure is the result of good, aggressive investigation by DEA agents and other law enforcement in the Atlanta area, in coordination with their counterparts in another part of the country. As the investigation is ongoing we cannot go into detail about other locations, but this is a disturbing new seizure that confirms Atlanta’s growing role in the meth and ice supply chains that seem to be generating larger and larger amounts of manufacturing and shipments.”
Nahmias added, “The influx and use of meth and ice continue to create tragic effects. People who sell, buy, and use these dangerous drugs often are involved in other crimes as they operate their criminal enterprises or feed their drug habit. As today’s money seizure illustrates, the amounts of illicit money involved in meth and ice trafficking continue to grow. This is a significant problem that we will continue to attack and prosecute in every way we can.”
Ms. Strange noted the multi-million dollar street value of the “ice” displayed at today’s news conference from the latest seizure. The drug currently sells for $12,000 to $16,000 per pound at the wholesale level; $1,100 to $1,500 per ounce; and $80 to $225 per gram, which would make the range of “street value” price of the seizure between $6.3 to $17.7 million. Ms. Strange noted that many market conditions dictate a “street” price, but that most users buy in quantities of a gram or less, which would make the overall street price higher. Ms. Strange noted that quantities of “ice” seized have shown a significant increase over the past two years.
Previously, the largest “ice” seizure in the Atlanta area was approximately 125 pounds of crystal methamphetamine which was seized by DEA Task Force agents in DeKalb County on January 27th, along with 9 kilograms of cocaine, after a controlled delivery originating in Brownsville, Texas.
United States Attorney David Nahmias and Special Agent In Charge Sherri Strange repeated their warning to the public that meth and ice are an increasing threat to our community and a priority of federal law enforcement. “Ice” is a particularly potent form of methamphetamine, similar to the relationship “crack” has to cocaine, as it is highly addictive and often sold and marketed as the drug’s most powerful form. Meth, and in particular ice, is a more powerful stimulant than cocaine and is highly addictive.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the DEA, and its Task Force, comprised of Gwinnett County Police Department, Doraville Police Department, MCS (Marietta, Cobb, Smyrna Drug Task Force), East Point Police Department, City of Atlanta Police Department, Henry County Police Department, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Clarkston Police Department and the Roswell Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kurt Erskine.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Chief, Criminal Division, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.