Thursday, August 28, 2008
West Tennessee Drug Task Force Recovers Large Amount of Cocaine on Interstate-40
MEMPHIS, TN – The West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force interdicted a large quantity of cocaine during a traffic stop late Tuesday night on Interstate-40 which led to the arrest of two individuals from Florida on felony drug charges.
Miguel Angel Rosario, 34, and Galvez Graciela, 48, both of West Palm Beach, Florida, were charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell. The amount of cocaine seized makes this charge a class A felony, which carries a standard sentence of 15-25 years in prison. Both defendants are being held on $500,000 bonds.
Special Agent Jason Moore, who is assigned to the Drug Task Force’s Interstate Interdiction Unit by the Memphis Police Department, seized approximately 12.5 pounds (5.7 kilograms) of cocaine from a Ford E-350 moving van that Rosario was driving on eastbound I-40 near Airline Road. Special Agent Moore had stopped the moving van for speeding. According to the arrest ticket, Rosario told Agent Moore he was headed to Birmingham, Alabama from Oklahoma. Rosario told the agent that his vehicle had broken down in Oklahoma and he rented the moving van to finish the trip. During the traffic stop, a narcotics detection dog positively responded to the presence of a narcotic odor inside the moving van. Agents further searched the vehicle and found two bags in the cargo area. Inside the bags, agents recovered five wrapped bundles of cocaine. The cocaine has a wholesale value of more than $125,000.
The Interstate Interdiction Unit has been a key element to stopping the pipeline of drugs routed through Memphis and sold in our community and in other cities. The Unit is comprised of five officers assigned from the Memphis Police Department and five officers assigned from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Two additional grant paid agents assist in operational activities with the Unit. The Interstate Interdiction Unit was established by the Drug Task Force in January 2000.
The West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force is a joint agency comprised of law enforcement officers assigned from various law enforcement agencies in three of west Tennessee’s judicial districts. Of those officers, six work solely for the Task Force and not for separate law enforcement agencies.
The judicial districts include the 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood Counties); the 29th Judicial District (Dyer and Lake Counties); and the 30th Judicial District (Shelby County). The Task Force is administered by the District Attorneys General of these districts. David McGriff, who is also serves as the D.A.’s Chief Criminal Investigator, is director of the Task Force. |
Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 (Archive on Wednesday, February 20, 2008)
Posted by jdonnals Contributed by jdonnals
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