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Multi-agency operation busts KY drug ring

By Laura Forbes - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Noah Stubbs - email

HENDERSON CO, KY (WFIE) - Authorities in Henderson County have made a major drug bust.

The arrests were part of a two year investigation called Operation Heartstopper involving Henderson Police, Kentucky State Police, and federal agents from the IRS and DEA.

The unique thing about Operation Heartstopper is that all these agencies came together to take down the organizational totum pole if you will of a very large drug operation.

It's an operation that police say brought crystal methamphetamine to Henderson County from western states as much as 20 pounds of it each month.

They say those drugs were distributed throughout western Kentucky as well as southern Indiana and Illinois.

I do believe this is going to send a continuing shock wave throughout the drug scene in the Tri-State region among those arrested:

"It's safe to say we got everyone from the big drug trafficker to the little drug trafficker," KSP Trooper Corey King said.

But police say it isn't over yet.

"We didn't get everybody in this organization," King said. "I will rest assured that there will be more federal indictments to come as well as arrests."

State police tell us more arrests are expected.

All ten people arrested face federal drug trafficking charges:

1)Shane Smithhart, 40, Henderson
2) Amanda Hays, 29, Corydon
3) William Cooms, 37, Henderson
4) Joseph Moseley, 41, Robards
5) Michael Turner Sr., 46, Henderson
6) Charlie Murch, 24, Henderson
7) Robert Burdon, 66, Henderson
8) Chandra Luttrell, 29, Bronston, KY
9) Steve Peak, 42, Waverly
10) Daniel Craig, 36, Henderson  

If convicted, officials say they will spend at least ten years in prison.

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