LAKE AREA NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT GROUP ANNOUNCES DRUG SEIZURE

 

The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG) is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force which serves Camden, Crawford, Gasconade, Laclede, Maries, and Osage Counties.  Additionally, the task force serves the cities of Lebanon, Osage Beach, Camdenton, Cuba, Steelville, Bourbon, and Belle.  The task force encompasses six counties with an approximate population of 200,000 residents.  LANEG employs five (5) Task Force Officers and is coordinated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who additionally supplies one (1) Trooper to the task force.

LANEG focuses their efforts on drug enforcement by conducting both covert and overt narcotics investigations in the counties and cities they serve.  The task force reported the following drug seizure as a result of their enforcement efforts.

 

In 2012 Camden County had a significant increase in the distribution and abuse of synthetic marijuana and bath salts.  During this increasing trend, law enforcement identified several Camden County business establishments who were selling synthetic marijuana and bath salts.  One of these local business establishments was “Hippie Spirit”, which was owned by Brett and Sherri Beeman from O’Fallon, Missouri.        

 

On July 13, 2012, officers of the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and the Camdenton Police Department executed a narcotic related search warrant at “Hippie Spirit.”  As a result of the search warrant, approximately 754 packages of synthetic marijuana, items of drug paraphernalia used in the distribution and consumption of controlled substances.

 

On June 17, 2014, after a long term investigation by the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group, DEA, ICE, IRS, US Postal Service, and other law enforcement agencies in Missouri  Illinois and Indiana, the Beeman’s and 26 others were arrested on federal charges connected to the importation, manufacture and nationwide sale of synthetic marijuana and bath salts.  As a result of these indictments, the forfeiture of assets linked to the sale and distribution of synthetic marijuana and bath salts could be seized.

 

LANEG credits their success to local and surrounding law enforcement agencies’ and the public’s cooperation.  If you have any information regarding a possible methamphetamine laboratory, growing of marijuana, or other information about the distribution of narcotics, please contact your local law enforcement agency or you can call the following toll free numbers to reach LANEG.  1-888-823-METH(6384) or 1-800-BAD-WEED(223-9333).  All callers have the option of remaining anonymous.

Funding for this project made available by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and the State of Missouri Department of Public Safety.