Rebecca Lopez
Huge meth seizure in Mesquite follows sweep 
11:11 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 28, 2009
MESQUITE — It looks like a regular residence in an ordinary neighborhood, but federal agents say the ranch-style brick home in Mesquite with a neatly-manicured front lawn and a carport over the driveway was a stash house for drugs.
"We just thought they were really quiet, family oriented people," said neighbor Stacy Smith.
But inside a backyard shed, agents said they found 300 pounds of methamphetamines — the largest bust in the history of the Drug Enforcement Agency's Dallas office.
They said the meth is almost 100 percent pure.
"You are looking at $7 million worth of methamphetamine here," said DEA Special Agent in Charge James Capra with dozens of plastic tubs filled with the drug on display behind him. "It's extremely significant. It's packaged and ready to be moved and distributed out across the country."
The DEA said they were led directly to the house in Mesquite after they gathered information and intelligence during a huge takedown of the La Familia drug cartel out of Mexico.
News 8 tried to ask people entering the house about what the agents found; they called police and tried to prevent pictures from being taken of the premises.
The family told police they didn't want to be exposed.
"They don't want to bring attention to each other; they don't want to bring attention to what they are doing," Capra said.
But federal agents say for this home, the cat is out of the bag.
E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com
