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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                             December 6, 2000
NEWS FROM: Nevada Division of Investigation                                                                   00-142

Nevada Division of Investigation Busts Multi-State Meth Manufacturing and Distribution Ring
Task forces led by NDI and Tri-Net arrest over 20 suspects in meth distribution investigation

Investigators from the Nevada Division of Investigation's Tri-Net Task Force, in cooperation with Nevada and Montana jurisdictions, joined forces on Wednesday, December 6 to secure evidence of a methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution organization. The investigation suggests that since February, the multi-state drug ring suspects are allegedly responsible for the manufacture and distribution of up to 60 pounds of pure meth with a street value of over a million dollars.

The meth produced by the suspects is labeled "pure" by investigators, who believe the drug commands prices up to $1000.00 per ounce. Investigators believe that the organization was purchasing and receiving huge quantities of the necessary meth manufacturing ingredient, "pseudoephedrine" from the Dayton Valley Corner Store in Dayton and the Country Store Food Mart in Carson City. The owner of both stores, Shahawali Abdulwahabzada, is currently in custody at the Carson City jail.

Investigative leads led to the Great Falls, Montana area where officers from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Great Falls Montana Police Department and the Cascade County Sheriff's Office joined the case. Their participation in the bust has resulted in the service of fifteen initial warrants of arrest in residents of Nevada and Montana. Located in the searches were three clandestine meth laboratories in Ulm, Montana, Great Falls, Montana and Dayton, Nevada. A second possible lab was also located in Ulm, Montana. $5,000.00 and over one pound of methamphetamine was seized at the locations. (See attached list of arrested suspects and their addresses.)

More requests for warrants of arrest are expected in the weeks to follow as up to 45 people have been implicated in the investigation. It is anticipated that the dismantling of this organization will disrupt the availability of methamphetamine in Western Nevada and Great Falls, Montana.

DMV&PS Director Richard Kirkland praised the efforts of the involved jurisdictions, "This case provides an excellent example of the benefits of task force enforcement conducted by local, state and federal law enforcement. Governor Guinn and I are very proud of the investigative work of these officers."

Tri-Net Narcotics Task Force is comprised of members of the Douglas County Sheriffs Department, Lyon County Sheriffs Department, Carson City Sheriffs Department, Storey County Sheriffs Department and the Nevada Division of Investigation. Other Nevada law enforcement jurisdictions involved in the intensive surveillance and investigative work include: North Central Nevada Narcotics Task Force, Nevada Parole and Probation, Nevada Highway Patrol, Humbolt Consolidated Task Force, US Drug Enforcement Administration, US Internal Revenue Service, South Lake El Dorado Narcotic Enforcement Team (SLEDNET) and the Northern Nevada Violent Crime Task Force.

Suspects arrested at the listed locations include:

The Nevada Division of Investigation, a Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, assists local law enforcement jurisdictions in criminal investigations.

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