A weeklong street-gang sweep in Guadalupe County ended with five people in handcuffs and a table full of seized drugs, guns, and a stolen motorcycle, according to county officials. Deputies say the operation was aimed squarely at suspected criminal street-gang members, who they believe are driving local drug trafficking and illegal weapons cases.
What deputies found
Investigators say they seized about 62.87 grams of methamphetamine, roughly 14.2 grams of suspected fentanyl (about 120 M30 pills), 14.2 grams of oxycodone, and 10.3 grams of alprazolam, along with marijuana. Officers also recovered three firearms, including one modified with a device commonly described as a "Glock switch," a stolen Yamaha motorcycle, and an additional motor vehicle, according to reporting by Fox San Antonio.
How the operation unfolded
The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office said the raids took place between Dec. 9 and Dec. 14 and were carried out by the Special Investigations Bureau Narcotics Unit, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit, and the Gang Unit. Officials described the multi-day sweep as a coordinated push focused on suspected gang members accused of trafficking drugs and arming themselves illegally. The timeline and unit involvement were outlined in a release via the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff's statement
"Criminal street gangs will not operate with impunity in Guadalupe County," Sheriff Joshua Ray said in the office statement. He added that the operation is part of a broader strategy to identify and hold accountable those who traffic drugs, commit violence, or possess firearms illegally, according to the release from the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office.
Where this fits
Local law enforcement has been leaning hard into narcotics enforcement across the county this year. In August, deputies seized more than 300 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop, an example officials point to when explaining why operations like the recent sweep are ramping up. That earlier seizure was reported by KSAT.
Charges and what's next
Authorities have filed 13 felony counts and six misdemeanors tied to the recent raids, and the sheriff’s office said four of the five suspects have been confirmed as active gang members. Investigators say the probe is still active and additional charges could be filed as they continue to dig into the case, according to reporting from Fox San Antonio.
How to report tips
Officials are asking anyone with information related to gang activity, drug trafficking or illegal weapons in Guadalupe County to contact local law enforcement or submit an anonymous tip through Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-403-8477 or online. Tipline details and an online submission form are available at Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers.
