Law Enforcement Network Takes Down Drug Network on Rez

You may have heard or followed the news of the bust of the "Spear Siding" network, an extensive organization that trafficked in methamphetamine and fentanyl.  This bunch operated out of a residence called Spear Siding on the Crow Reservation, receiving the drugs from a Mexican cartel and from Washington suppliers and then distributing to the Northern Cheyenne and three other reservations.  Meth was handled by the pound and fentanyl by the thousands, sold for cash and for guns, many of the latter stolen.  The street value of the product was in the multi-millions.

To take down the Spear Siding network and other drug peddlers, an equally networked response is needed from law enforcement.  In this case, the investigation and takedown came from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs with the backup from local police.  The U.S. Attorney's Office, Montana District, gave their gratitude and praise in a press conference on Thursday the 14th.

The investigation on tribal lands was not easy, according to a DEA spokesman, given the remoteness, the spotty cellphone coverage and that their vehicles are easily recognized.  Still, the unseen around-the-clock groundwork and inter-agency tight-lipped communication pieced this criminal network together, knew where each member was at all times, and made the collective pounce.

The coordinated arrests in April 2023 were made without any violent incident.  These 27 criminals have served and will serve a cumulative sentence of 165 years for their crimes.  And for the record, most of the 27 are from Montana, and one is a former professor from MSU in Bozeman.

Two are still on the run.  If you have information on their whereabouts, please contact your nearest law enforcement.

Have to Address the Demand Side

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich stressed that while these great law agencies get after the dealers and supply side, more attention needs paid to the demand.  He explained thathe drug trade's practice is to build relationships with individuals, get them addicted to meth and fentanyl, then when they run out of money for the drugs, they become dealers and commit crimes to maintain the habit.

So for all the readers out there, I strongly suggest avoiding any and all contact with the drug trade.  Their product is very dangerous, and the tenacious Law Enforcement is on the hunt.  A user or dealer's life is paranoid and short.  The end result will be the grave or the prison cell.  Either of those have appeal?

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