METH SEIZED IN DEKALB VALUED AT $225,000

FORT PAYNE -- A multi-agency task force seized more than five pounds of
methamphetamine near Collinsville Saturday night, the largest seizure of
meth ever made in DeKalb County. Edward Mendoza, 22, DeKalb County 921, Lot
19, Collinsville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance
after he was found to have a small quantity of meth, authorities said.
Hector Daniel Cortina, 39, 14060 DeKalb County 51, Lot 22, Collinsville,
was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine after agents seized more
than five pounds of the drug at his home. "This is our biggest meth seizure
ever," Darrell Collins, commander of the DeKalb County Drug Task Force,
said. "We have had some one-pound busts before, but nothing like this."
Collins estimated that the meth seized would bring more than $225,000 if
sold on the street by the gram. The agents strongly suspect that the drugs
were smuggled from Mexico. The arrests resulted from an 18-month undercover
investigation into drugs coming into the southern part of the county. "Meth
is the number one drug problem in DeKalb County," Collins said. "About 65
percent of all the drug arrests we make are for meth." Collins said meth
started hitting the county in 1998, when clandestine labs began showing up.
Small-scale labs continue to show up often, but they produce minute amounts
compared to the quantity being smuggled in. The DeKalb County Drug Task
Force, DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, Fort Payne Police Tactical Unit,
Collinsville Police Department, Marshall County Drug Enforcement Unit,
Etowah County Drug Task Force, Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the FBI
took part in the operation. Heavily armed agents stormed Mendoza's home
about 9:30 p.m. That is where a member of the Fort Payne Tactical Unit was
accidentally shot in the leg by another unit member. After arresting
Mendoza, they went to Cortina's home in the Frog Pond trailer park. After
arresting him and seizing the meth, they searched his business, Discos
Novedades Reyosa, 138 Main St., Collinsville, but found no further drugs,
authorities said. In addition to the methamphetamine, the agents said they
confiscated more than $4,000 in cash, a pickup truck, a car and several guns.