By: Associated Press//June 29, 2011//
RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Federal officials say they’ve taken down two major drug trafficking operations in southeastern Wisconsin, including one that’s also connected to Texas and Illinois.
The U.S. attorney in Wisconsin’s Eastern District, James Santelle, said 17 people have been indicted on drug trafficking and firearms offenses, including several alleged members of the Gangster Disciples street gang.
Santelle said guns, cash, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana were seized during searches in the three states. Officials say the trafficking organization was led by a Racine man and involved drug sources in Chicago and San Antonio.
In the other case, 18 people were indicted on drug charges in an investigation that initially focused on Ruth’s Beauty Salon in Racine where a barber was suspected of assisting in the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.