The Federal Bureau of Investigation works closely with local law enforcement officials to investigate and break up large, formally organized gangs that sell illicit drugs produced by Mexican drug cartels. The FBI operates such joint task forces out of all of its 56 field offices in the United States.
Some task forces are organized to investigate specific criminal or national security threats, and one of these is the Southern Illinois Transnational Organized Crime West (TOCW). This task force is operated out of the FBI Field Office in Carlyle, Illinois.
This task force was organized to fight large scale drug organizations and conspiracies that have the sole purpose of importing illegal drugs from southern Mexico into the United States.
Latest cooperative effort
The TOC-W task force has been recently focused on the activities of Mexican drug cartels in southern Illinois. The joint efforts of the task force produced the arrests of eight individuals on charges of drug possession and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The eight individuals were arrested on charges of possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The other counts involved counts of possession of methamphetamine or fentanyl, with intent to re-sell.
The results of the arrests
The joint arrests resulted in the incarceration of individuals who have been instrumental in facilitating the international conveyance of various illicit drugs into the United States with intent to sell.
The individuals who have been arrested and charged with drug crimes now face strict international penalties for their activities in the international incorporation and sale of illicit drugs.
Anyone charged with such crimes will need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help them escape or lessen the severe penalties for which they have been charged.
What next?
Any of the individuals who have been arrested by the efforts of the joint task force will need assistance of counsel to achieve the best outcome, whether it its an acquittal or a lenient plea agreement.
Given the high number of defendants, the chances of a beneficial plea agreement are high if an experienced lawyer is available to provide advice.