Thread: Operation Maple Leaf Results in Several Drug Arrests

Operation Maple Leaf Results in Several Drug Arrests

OCTOBER 5, 2005 -- Authorities say tubs of marijuana, bags of cocaine, weapons and ammunition are what a dangerous group in Maple Hill were trafficking, keeping a low profile from the law.

Operation Maple Leaf began two years ago with complaints from citizens in the small town and ended with major arrests.

More than fifty people were caught. Many were charged and sentenced to at least 11 years in prison.

"We have bigger seizures, more serious charges, longer prison sentences. The cost of doing business for career criminals in north carolina just went up," says District Attorney Ben David.

Investigators say the career criminals were of Honduran and Mexican descent. They dealt guns and narcotics from south of the U.S. border to eastern North Carolina.
Nine federal and state agencies went undercover to investigate the groups operation. Now, Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith warns his residents he'll be watching.

"The bad guys got caught this time. If they do it again, we'll get them again."


Each month, authorities say the criminals sold more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and a thousand pounds of pot in the community.
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3942004

Maple Hill today your home town tomorrow. We are turning into a 3rd world dump with all that comes with it.

I have emailed the reporter Maggie Alexander to see if she has the information on how many were illegal and possible members of MS13

added to homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article-782-thread-1-0.html

More info on this operation:
A huge drug and firearm trafficking network inPender County is out of operation tonight as the result of a major investigation that began more than two years ago. Today, federal, state and local law enforcement authorities announced the results at the federal building in Wilmington.

Fifty-two people have been prosecuted following what authorities call Operation Maple Leaf -- a reference to the drug and gun traffickers' distribution point in Maple Hill.

The U.S. Attorney for eastern North Carolina estimates the network distributed about 50 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 lbs. of marijuana a month. Most of those behind bars are of Mexican and Honduras decent, important because of ties south of the border.
Investigators say the drugs were picked up in Houston, Texas, having been shipped though Mexico from Honduras. The narcotics then moved through Duplin County on the way to Pender County. The traffickers then would smuggle guns and cash into the hands of dangerous gangs in Honduras. The investigation spread into New Hanover and Onslow Counties.
Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith said, "You could go up there pretty much any time and buy drugs. We sat down about two years ago with the ATF and really worked out what we wanted to do. We knew we were going to have to be patient. We knew this wasn't anything we could do in a couple months. So we made up our mind then to take this as far as we could."

Of the 51 people prosecuted, 29 have already been sentenced. Those federally prosecuted have an average sentence of 11 and one-half years.

A federal prosecution means there is no parole. Other than good behavior time, these drug and gun dealers will spend every day of their sentence behind bars. And authorities seized more than $300,000 in assets, and that money will go to law enforcement involved with the investigation.
http://www.wwaytv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3942188

lates update:
Operation Maple Leaf Results in Several Drug Arrests
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Operation Maple Leaf Results in Several Drug Arrests






OCTOBER 5, 2005 -- Authorities say tubs of marijuana, bags of cocaine, weapons and ammunition are what a dangerous group in Maple Hill were trafficking, keeping a low profile from the law.

Operation Maple Leaf began two years ago with complaints from citizens in the small town and ended with major arrests.

More than fifty people were caught. Many were charged and sentenced to at least 11 years in prison.

"We have bigger seizures, more serious charges, longer prison sentences. The cost of doing business for career criminals in north carolina just went up," says District Attorney Ben David.

Investigators say the career criminals were of Honduran and Mexican descent. They dealt guns and narcotics from south of the U.S. border to eastern North Carolina.

Nine federal and state agencies went undercover to investigate the groups operation. Now, Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith warns his residents he'll be watching.

"The bad guys got caught this time. If they do it again, we'll get them again."


Each month, authorities say the criminals sold more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and a thousand pounds of pot in the community.

Reported by Maggie Alexander
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3942004

Maggie Alexander Nerver answered my email for information.