Immigration and Customs Enforcement Take on Crime in Bay County

May 25, 2011



Panama City- Nearly one year ago, law enforcement officers identified seven people dealing large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine in the Bay County area, but that wasn't all.

Posted: 5:53 PM May 25, 2011
Reporter: Sandra Osborne


Panama City- Nearly one year ago, law enforcement officers identified seven people dealing large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine in the Bay County area, but that wasn't all.

The suspects also began negotiating with an undercover ICE agent to buy 800 AK-47 assault rifles.

"They did indicate to us that they were going back to Mexico to be used in the drug war," said ICE Special Agent, Scott Springer.

Law enforcement officials arranged an undercover sting operation using 50 AK-47’s that were not functional to catch the suspects.

"We brought in weapons and we showed the weapons to the individuals, but no weapons ever left our custody. They weren't functional weapons anyway," said Springer.

While this case didn't surprise Springer, he admits it's uncommon for this area.

"I haven't seen anything like that in terms of someone wanting to purchase 800 machine guns in this area. Yeah, I think that was an unusual type of case."

According to ICE, one member of the group was a U.S. citizen.

The other 6 were Mexican nationals, in this country illegally.

That's' something that's not unusual for our area.

"It would not be uncommon for someone residing here illegally in this area to have crossed the border in Mexico into Texas or Arizona maybe by paying for a coyote."

Just one of the many missions Homeland Security undertakes.

"We are Homeland Security and our mission is to protect the border."

Springer says ICE couldn't have completed the undercover sting operation without the cooperation of local law enforcement officers.

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