Adrian Melecio Trinidad (from left), Luis Rendon and Rafael Segovia-Pineda were fingered as the ringleaders in a major meth smuggling operation that saw the dangerous drug brought from Mexico to Chattanooga by way of Atlanta.A drug ring that authorities said distributed more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine in the area over two years has been shut down and nearly 30 people arrested.
The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a joint two-year major undercover investigation to identify and target high-level meth distributors in the Dalton-Whitfield County area, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
Three main traffickers – Rafael Segovia-Pineda, of Dalton; Luis Rendon, of Tunnel Hill, and Adrian Melecio Trinidad, of Chatsworth – allegedly were responsible for distributing the drug to dealers who conducted retail sales, the release stated.
Investigators determined the methamphetamine was coming to Dalton from Mexico by way of Atlanta.
More than $250,000 in assets has been seized as part of the investigation, including a house in Athens, Tenn. lnvestigators also seized 13 guns, 10 vehicles and more than $72,000 in cash.
A total of 29 people have been charged with violating the Georgia Controlled Substance Act and for other charges as a result of the investigation, the release stated. Arrest warrants have been issued for at least 30 more suspects on similar charges. Some will be charged in State Superior Court and other will be charged in federal court.