Ten people arrested on drug charges locally as part of Operation Take America Back

Ten people, nine from Baxter County and one from Marion County, were arrested Thursday as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take America Back and an FBI initiative designated Operation Summer Heat.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas says the arrests stem from an Organized Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation that began in 2023, which targeted methamphetamine and fentanyl distributors in and around Mountain Home. The investigation, which was headed by the FBI, involved numerous undercover buys of methamphetamine, and drug and firearm seizures from members of the drug trafficking organization. Since its inception, a total of 23 people have been arrested as part of the investigation.

David Ethredge is the 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney. The district includes Baxter, Marion, Boone and Newton counties. He says there were numerous agencies involved in Thursday’s arrests.

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Ethredge says of the 10 arrested, six were taken into federal custody and taken to a federal holding facility in northwest Arkansas while four were booked into the Baxter County Detention Center.

He explains the difference in federal and state charges.

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Ethredge says the coordinated effort of everyone involved allowed the operation to be successful.

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The prosecutor says it is important getting some of the big players like they arrested Thursday off of the streets.

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The six that were taken into federal custody will be arraigned either Friday or Monday.

Mountain Home Police Chief Eddie Griffin says there were no injuries reported during the operation.

The names of those arrested have not been released.

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