Methamphetamine bust is New Albany Police’s largest

New Albany, MS- New Albany Police Department (NAPD)  officers  arrested two drug traffickers, who possessed a large quantity of crystal meth (methamphetamine), Saturday night, Nov. 12.

The initial stop, for a traffic violation on I-22, was made by a NAPD officer with a canine unit at about 10 p.m. Saturday.

While questioning the car’s driver and a second occupant, the NAPD officer became suspicious, and the vehicle was further investigated by law officers and the drug-trained dog.

Officers and the dog discovered almost three pounds of meth hidden in the motor vehicle, all carefully wrapped in plastic.

Arrested men are both from Georgia

Arrested were Jose Camach Taboada of Roswell, GA, and Salvador Corona Martinez of Marietta, GA. Both are 26 years of age. NAPD Chief Chris Robertson said Toboada and Martinez were believed to be transporting the three pounds of meth from near the Mexican border, for sale in the U.S. to retail-level drug pushers.

JOSE CAMACH TABOADA
ROSWELL, GA
01-19-1990 26YO

SALVADOR CORONA MARTINEZ
MARIETTA, GA
04-01-1990 26YO

Police charged both Taboada and Martiniz with “aggravated” crystal methamphetamine distribution. Aggravated distribution is a capital felony, which carries a prison term of 25 years to life. Bond was set at $100,000 each. Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards says he is still holding both in the Union County Jail as of late Tuesday afternoon, neither having posted bail.

The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has said, “Prices [of meth] vary throughout the United States. On the distribution level it can range from $3,500 per pound, in parts of California and Texas, to $21,000 per pound  in the southeastern and northeastern regions of the country. The retail price for methamphetamine ranges from $400 to $3,000 per ounce.”

Assuming a moderate southeastern U.S. street value of $2,000 per ounce,  the NAPD seized about $100,000 worth of the drug in the Saturday night bust on I-22.

Chief Robertson said is the largest seizure of methamphetamine his department has made.