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(CNN) — An Atlanta man was indicted on federal charges related to the largest heroin bust in Georgia’s history, according to authorities.
Antonio DeShawn Daniels, also known as “Freckleface Shawn,” was arrested July 27 after federal authorities executed search warrants at several locations in Atlanta where he was known to distribute drugs, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Georgia.
In total, authorities said they seized 170 kilograms of heroin, 10 kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of marijuana, more than $ 1 million in cash and 41 firearms.
That’s a ridiculous amount of heroin. I was surprised, ”Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said at a news conference Wednesday.
“Several kilos would be a big seizure in the past,” he added. “Never in my 30+ years of law enforcement would I have expected to see so much heroin seized here in Atlanta.”
Authorities estimate the value of the drugs at US $ 8.5 million. Murphy told CNN affiliate WSB that it is by far the largest heroin seizure in Georgia history.
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On Wednesday, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced that Daniels, 46, was indicted on federal charges related to possession with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in support of trafficking. of drugs.
“The amount of drugs, money, and firearms allegedly controlled by Daniels highlights the scale of heroin and cocaine trafficking in this community by local drug traffickers with high-level ties to international drug trafficking organizations,” said the federal prosecutor. Byung J. Pak in a press release.
CNN has reached out to Daniels’ attorney for comment, but has not received a response.
The case stems from a long-term investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the help of state and local authorities. During the press conference, the agents involved in the case said that Daniels was related to the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel in Mexico.
Last year, the DEA listed the cartel as one of the most powerful and fastest growing in Mexico and U.S, behind the Sinaloa Cartel. It has major distribution centers in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Atlanta, according to the DEA.
“What’s also unusual about this is how we got to this case,” Murphy said. “In fact, we worked it backwards and made several seizures in Mexico.”
Agents said they were informed about Daniels after a $ 7 million seizure in Mexico last year. During that raid, they located ledgers alleging that the Atlanta man received more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine between August 2018 and October 2019, according to the statement.
“The ledgers reflected that Daniels returned to the organization more than $ 31 million in drug revenue that was eventually transported to Mexico,” according to the statement.
Agents said the indictment is just the beginning and more arrests are expected.
“Because of the covid, criminals think that the police are not out there,” Pak said at the press conference. “This is a perfect example that we are there to keep poison and hazardous materials off the streets.”
CNN’s Laura James and Harmeet Kaur contributed to this report.
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