'OPERATION COCAINE COWBOYS' LASTS 2 YEARS, NETS 62 CHARGES

An investigation that was two years in the making came to fruition in
the early morning hours Wednesday as local, state and federal law
enforcement officers conducted a raid in Carthage and southwest
Missouri that netted 47 arrests -- 28 on the federal level and 19 on
state charges as of Wednesday.

Thirty-six individuals face federal criminal charges as a result of
"Operation Cocaine Cowboys," a 27-month multi-agency investigation
into alleged illegal drug trafficking and firearms sales in Carthage,
Jasper County and southwest Missouri.

Twenty-six persons face state and local charges in connection with
Wednesday's raid.

Launched in November 1999, "Operation Cocaine Cowboys" has focused on
an organization of individuals who allegedly were responsible for the
delivery and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine,
methamphetamine, marijuana and other drugs from sources in California,
Texas and Guatemala, said Chris Whitley of the U.S. Attorney's office
in Kansas City on Wednesday during a press conference.

"In November 1999, officers with the Missouri Highway Patrol and the
task force launched an investigation into the trafficking of
methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine in Jasper County," Whitley
said. "This investigation expanded far beyond its initial scope in
Jasper County to include multiple jurisdictions in Southwest Missouri
and elsewhere in the Midwest.

"Through numerous undercover purchases of guns and illegal narcotics,
this investigation has revealed an organization that we allege was
responsible for the local distribution of significant quantities of
cocaine, meth and marijuana that we determined came from California,
Texas and Guatemala."

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Combined Ozarks Metropolitan
Enforcement Team (COMET) launched the investigation with assistance
from the following investigative agencies: the FBI, ATF, INS, Jasper
County Drug Task Force, the Carthage, Joplin, Webb City and
Springfield police departments and the U.S. Marshals office.

Whitley said the organization allegedly distributed illegal narcotics,
primarily in Jasper County, but also in at least four other southwest
Missouri counties - Christian, Greene, Lawrence and Webster - and
elsewhere. Whitley said undercover officers made numerous purchases of
illegal drugs and weapons as part of the investigation.

The federal charges are contained in a series of five indictments, and
by a series of four federal criminal complaints.

Whitley said there was no one "mastermind" in charge of the drug
trafficking and illegal firearms sale circle.

"What we have are a series of separate, but very much related, cases,"
he said.

"Separate, but very much related, conspiracies of individuals who are
trafficking illegal narcotics and, in at least one case, an individual
that we allege was providing a firearm store for various members of
the conspiracy."

Whitley would not say from where or from whom the suspects received
the drugs and firearms. He said there were some amounts of drugs
seized during the raid.

Whitley also said the primary point of distribution for the illegal
drugs and firearms was in Jasper County in the federal cases, but
"drug trafficking seldom respects city limits, county border or state
borders."

More than 15 homes were involved in the raid, Whitley said. He said
the homes were located primarily in Jasper County, but no one specific
environment.

No businesses were involved, he added.

"In the U.S. Attorney's office this is one of the most significant
cases we have had come along in quite some time," he said. "This is an
indication that local law enforcement is serious about this problem,
and that federal law enforcement is willing to work with local law
enforcement to stop these types of problems.

"It should also tell you that there is a demand for these types of
drugs, that is a separate problem that law enforcement alone cannot
address.

"We are not at all surprised that cocaine is in this
area.

"We have known cocaine has been trafficked in the Ozarks for quite
some time. No part of this area, no part of Missouri, and no part of
this country is immune to the problem of illegal drug use. This was a
significant group of individuals to prosecute, and it's our mission to
address that."

Whitley said INS was involved because "a number of the individuals we
knew were not United States citizens. . . Whenever you have an
operation of this magnitude, there is always the possibility you will
have people who are in the United States illegally, their Visa status
may be in question, and that's why we had immigration officials here
today.

"The only country of origin in question with regard to this
investigation was Mexico."

INS officials were not present at the afternoon press
conference.

The majority of the defendants, in the federal charges, were residents
in the Carthage-Joplin area, Whitley said. (See complete list of
federal charges on Page 7A).

Whitley praised the conduct and efforts of the law enforcement members
who conducted Wednesday's raid.

"I have never seen so many officers gathered in one place, with one
mission, and were able to fan out with very specific goals," Whitley
said. "I can't say it worked like clockwork, nothing ever does. They
were divided into teams and at any of these locations there was always
a risk for themselves and others in the community."

Whitley said no officers, witnesses or suspects were injured during
the raid.

Nick Marshall, Jasper County assistant prosecuting attorney, said on
Monday, Feb. 11, his office charged 17 individuals with committing
drug-related crimes in Jasper County.

"The crimes range from methamphetamine to cocaine charges, and were
mostly charges of possession with intent to distribute.," Marshall
said.

"Some were also merely possession charges," Marshall
said.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Kent Casey said members of the
various local, state and federal agencies held a briefing at
approximately 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

He said more than 180 officers were in attendance from multiple
agencies, the teams were divided up and given their assignments, and
then the operation began at approximately 6 a.m. Wednesday.

"This operation has continued throughout the day, and may be
continuing at this time," Casey said. "We are pleased that there have
been no reports of any injuries, and the raids went as planned. Most
of the operation, as far as the law enforcement officer teams securing
people, has concluded at this time," Casey said.

The operation's command post was set up at the Carthage Police
Department.

Mark James, with the Kansas City ATF field division, said his
department recovered approximately 104 firearms, including
approximately 60 firearms purchased by an undercover agent during the
course of the investigation. He said an additional 17 firearms were
purchased by Missouri State troopers, and the rest were firearms
recovered by search and arrest warrants during Wednesday's raid.

"Most of these firearms range from assault weapons, pistols, shotguns,
long guns," James said. "We do not believe we have recovered any
fully-automatic machine guns in custody, but not all the guns have
been tested. I do believe we recovered at least two stolen firearms in
today's operation."

Whitley said additional charges could be filed in this
investigation.