A nearly year-long investigation culminated in the arrest of three individuals in connection with narcotics trafficking in Monroe County, according to law enforcement officials. In a coordinated effort involving 120 officers, search warrants were simultaneously executed at six different locations on Wednesday. Antonio La-Quan Carr, Cecil Romano Pippens, and Earnest Deangelo Hunter face multiple felony charges based on evidence including a significant quantity of suspected drugs, firearms, and body armor.
The Monroe Area Narcotics Team and Investigative Services (MANTIS)—which includes personnel from Michigan State Police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the local public safety department, and the U.S. Border Patrol—took part in the operation, ClickOnDetroit reports. Authorities seized nearly 2 pounds of suspected cocaine, suspected heroin, ecstasy, an AR-style ghost gun without serial numbers, and body armor in the raids. Additionally, two other search warrants were executed at area businesses connected to the suspects.
This drug bust, described as disrupting a drug trafficking organization within the Monroe area, resulted in the confiscation of almost one kilogram of cocaine, suspected heroin, ecstasy, handguns, and an assault rifle-style pistol produced using a 3D printer, known as a ghost gun for its lack of traceable serial numbers. "The subjects of this investigation have been involved in the distribution of illegal drugs throughout Monroe County," stated a MANTIS press release, as detailed by FOX 2 Detroit.
The raid led to the three suspects being arraigned yesterday, where they now face the aforementioned felony charges. The sweep is part of a broader effort to clamp down on illegal drug distribution and firearm possession in the region. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to come forward and contact MANTIS at (734) 240-2605, according to the WTOL report.
