by Brandon Ferguson, Associated Press
CARTHAGE, Mo. (AP) - Federal, state and local authorities raided homes and other buildings Wednesday in a large-scale drug and weapons sweep that led to 47 arrests.
Helicopters flew overhead as dozens of FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents, along with state and local police, were seen throughout the city. Residents of one neighborhood reported SWAT officers breaking down the door of one home around 6 a.m.
Authorities said the sweep was the culmination of a two-year investigation. Sixty-two people face federal or state charges in the case, investigators said.
The probe focused on the trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana from California, Texas and Guatemala into southwest Missouri, authorities said. Also, more than 100 weapons linked to one suspect were seized.
“It involves a very large-scale and multijurisdictional investigation into ... illegal narcotics trafficking and illegal firearms trafficking,” said Chris Whitley with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas City.
He described the illegal activity as “a series of relatively closely related but still separate conspiracies. There was no particular mastermind.”
Immigration officials set up checkpoints throughout the city, checking people’s immigration papers, KOAM-TV reported.
Sherman Hale, 39, said he and his family moved to Carthage from California to get away from drugs and crime.
“It’s shocking because this happened right across the street from my house,” Hale said. “Now they’re hitting close to home again.”