VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Crackdown on area drug dealers
»Play Video
Umatilla County, OR. -- It was D-day for drug dealers and they never even knew it. A massive sweep that hasn't been seen in this area for years kicked off before dawn.
Your corner street peddler was not the target. Cops were after the large-scale operations.
Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts tells KEPR, "The total attempt is to cut the hand that feeds."
Our team rode along with agents on one of their stings. The suspect wanted in this house wasn't home but many others were. At last count, dozens had been arrested by Thursday afternoon.
The operation was so massive some people in Hermiston worried their city was under siege.
Hermiston resident, Tonya Martin said, "I'm very shocked. I don't understand why so much is going on in this small of an area. I would assume in a big city but not in our town."
Tonya was thankful officers confiscated meth, heroin, prescription pills, marijuana and illegal plants. The haul was a street value of close to a half-million dollars. Also collected were more than 20 illegal guns and weapons.
Thursday's bust was a lot more than just pulling some pot plants out of someone's back yard. It took over a year and 20 agencies to come together to make today's mission a success.
Why Umatilla County? The area is tagged an HIDTA, which stands for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C.
Many of the drug dealers selling here have ties to Mexican Drug Cartels. This distinction helps get federal money to pay for these raids.
This helps Tonya breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm so proud of the officers around this area for doing what they've done," she said.
This investigation is not over. Agents tell KEPR as they turn over one rock it may lead them to more information on crimes in the area.
We expect it won't be until early next week that we get a full wrap-up on what was found, who was caught and where these drug homes were.
Your corner street peddler was not the target. Cops were after the large-scale operations.
Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts tells KEPR, "The total attempt is to cut the hand that feeds."
Our team rode along with agents on one of their stings. The suspect wanted in this house wasn't home but many others were. At last count, dozens had been arrested by Thursday afternoon.
The operation was so massive some people in Hermiston worried their city was under siege.
Hermiston resident, Tonya Martin said, "I'm very shocked. I don't understand why so much is going on in this small of an area. I would assume in a big city but not in our town."
Tonya was thankful officers confiscated meth, heroin, prescription pills, marijuana and illegal plants. The haul was a street value of close to a half-million dollars. Also collected were more than 20 illegal guns and weapons.
Thursday's bust was a lot more than just pulling some pot plants out of someone's back yard. It took over a year and 20 agencies to come together to make today's mission a success.
Why Umatilla County? The area is tagged an HIDTA, which stands for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C.
Many of the drug dealers selling here have ties to Mexican Drug Cartels. This distinction helps get federal money to pay for these raids.
This helps Tonya breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm so proud of the officers around this area for doing what they've done," she said.
This investigation is not over. Agents tell KEPR as they turn over one rock it may lead them to more information on crimes in the area.
We expect it won't be until early next week that we get a full wrap-up on what was found, who was caught and where these drug homes were.
