MEDFORD, Ore. — After several recent major drug trafficking busts, investigators in Jackson County say they are on pace for a record year. Over the past week, Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) has made at least three arrests and seized about 30 pounds of methamphetamine.
Before those most recent busts, MADGE began investigating two men from San Diego, California who were suspected of trafficking meth into southern Oregon.
On February 6, Medford Police said, the MADGE team learned that the two suspects were heading back into the area. Investigators saw the suspects in a 2020 Toyota Sienna on I-5 and pulled them over.
After getting a search warrant, the investigative team found 5.6 pounds of meth inside the vehicle. Both 37-year-old Martin Jesus Velasco and 25-year-old Jhony Afredo Martines were arrested for delivery and possession of meth, and remain in custody on $500,000 bail.
With those last few busts, MADGE has seized more than 68 pounds of meth so far this year. Medford Police said that the unit only seized 68 pounds of the drug during the entirety of last year.
"MADGE would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) and Oregon State Police for their assistance in this long term investigation," Medford Police said.
