by Mark Bellinger

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A six-month undercover investigation led Metro's Special Investigations Division to a home on Saturn Drive in Donelson. Police said the home was the base for a major heroin operation.
They arrested three people -- 22 year old Carlos Jimenez-Aguilera who was the supplier, 23 year old Luis Ramirez-Tiaga who was a delivery man and 38 year old Jose Aguilar-Lopez.
Undercover officers raided the home and discovered it was the hub of a major operation. Inside they found eight ounces of heroin, balloons, digital scales, three pistols and a rifle.
"We believe this group on every given day was taking orders from 25 to 30 people," said Don Aaron, spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Neighbor Charlie Ramsey said he had no idea.
"If that was going on there would be a lot of concern, because there is a neighborhood watch here. The gentleman who runs that lives right up the street," said Ramsey.
The police investigation began in August. For several months police would call Carlos Aguilera, who went by the name "Omar," and buy heroin, but they could never find him.
Omar used couriers to make the deliveries, but when police arrested one of the couriers - Omar started delivering the drugs himself and police arrested him Wednesday.
When undercover officers seized his cell phone it started lighting up with people placing orders. They cited more than a dozen people for trying to buy the drug from an undercover officer after Omar was arrested.
"We met up with one woman who couldn't pay, who said she couldn't pay – but was offering to exchange sex for heroin. That shows you how addictive this substance is," said Aaron.
Black tar heroin has kind of made a comeback in recent years. Police in Middle Tennessee have been trying to stop it.
"I really don't even know anything about the drug, but that's it. I mean you're not paying attention to it, because nothing goes on. Maybe that's the reason they're here. Nobody pays attention to it," said Ramsey.
Police said the heroin they recovered has a street value of $50,000.
Officials believed the three men charged with felonies in the case were from Mexico. Federal immigration holds have been placed on all three.

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