CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Division of the FBI announced the arrest of 11 members of a Mexican drug trafficking organization in Stark and Summit counties Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, officers from multiple departments executed eight arrest warrants and seven search warrants in the Akron-Canton area.
Carlos Elias, 33, Lisa Elias, 36, Nikki Greenwood, 37, Michael Mack, 39, Wilmer Martinez, 25, Steven Petit, 35, Richard Stewart, 57, and Robert Willham, 36, were all charged with intent to distribute and distribution of crystal methamphetamine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distributions of crystal methamphetamine.
Jose Cuevas, 28, Javier Roque, 30, and Nicholas Stewart, 35, were previously arrested and charged with drug trafficking and weapons violations.
"My wife and I were in bed around 6 o'clock. I heard voices, and I heard racket and I got up and looked out. They were ramming the door," said Joe Lega.
The big dent on the door at a home on Lincoln Way NW in Massilon tells that same story. WKYC Channel 3's Wale Aliyu knocked on that door where two of the 11 people arrested lived. Their grandmother didn't go on camera, but told WKYC that they are getting help.
"All this is going on next-door? Well, they were awfully quiet about it," said neighbor Barbara Joseph.
It wasn't just homes. Businesses also got involved. The El Galeron Grill and Mexican Restaurant in Canton would normally be open Wednesday afternoon, but it was closed because of the FBI raid there.
"It's kind of scary," said Sandy Robinson who lives nearby.
There were no arrests from the restaurant, but FBI officials say they are glad to remove all of this from the jam packed Northeast Ohio drug pipeline.
Authorities seized 10 firearms, 1 pound of cocaine, 145 pounds of marijuana valued at $150,000, 11 pounds of meth valued at $150,000 and $100,000 in cash in the six-month investigation.
“This ring is responsible for shipping pounds of crystal meth into Stark and Summit counties,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon. “The fact that this pipeline was shut off is a credit to the FBI, the Akron and Canton police departments and our other law enforcement partners.”
"A lot of times businesses and establishments are used for money laundering purposes because narcotics move in so much cash, and you have to somehow launder the cash to make it look legitimate, and often they have to do it through businesses," said Donna Sullivan, special agent Cleveland FBI.
"Especially in this case because they were distributing drugs for the last six months throughout Northeast Ohio," said Sullivan.
"This ring is responsible for shipping pounds of crystal meth into Stark and Summit counties," said Acting U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon. "The fact that this pipeline was shut off is a credit to the FBI, the Akron and Canton police departments and our other law enforcement partners."
The FBI found the suspects after a nearly six month investigation.
The work isn't finished. The FBI says they're still searching for one suspect, but said they could not release any details.
