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63 indicted in year-long drug investigation

Sixty-three people were indicted in a drug bust in Nebraska and Colorado, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska announced on Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s office called the drug bust one of the largest in Nebraska history. The federal indictments in western and central Nebraska and northeastern Colorado concerned individuals involved in a methamphetamine conspiracy, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Those arrested were charged with distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, the press release said.

Names of those indicted or arrested were not released Wednesday morning. A press conference will be held Friday morning in North Platte that will provide information on indictments and defendants, according to the press release.

“This is an incredible effort involving nearly 30 law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg in a press release. “The coordination and cooperation in this investigation is a tremendous tribute to the selfless dedication we see time and time again with our law enforcement agencies.

“Two years ago we were gathered in North Platte to honor many of these same law enforcement officers who were being recognized with an award from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). That HIDTA award, from a case which began in 2012, ironically spun off into this drug conspiracy involving this operation.”

The joint operation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, included investigators from the Cooperative Operation for Drug Enforcement (CODE) Drug Task Force, Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group (WING), the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force (CNDSSTF) and Colorado law enforcement authorities, according to a press release.

Local agencies involved in the drug bust include the Sidney Police Department, the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office and Deuel County Sheriff’s Office. A total of 25 agencies in Nebraska and four in Colorado were involved in the investigation, the press release said.

 

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