Meth bust nets 4 pounds of high quality meth

Zanda Lee Gonzalez                Edgar Jesus Cervantes

Two alleged drug traffickers and more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine are off the streets as a result of an multi-agency investigation initiated with a traffic stop in Boaz.

At a press conference Thursday, the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, the Etowah County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff Todd Entrekin announced the arrests and displayed the drugs seized — with a street value of nearly $200,000.

The couple arrested had gotten the attention of the DEU before a Boaz police officer made an unrelated traffic stop and found them in possession of one ounce of methamphetamine. After that discovery, Boaz police and the Etowah and Marshall County drug units executed a search warrant at the couple’s Bryant Drive residence in Attalla and found about 4 pounds of meth and a handgun.

24 year old Edger Jesus Cervantes,  and 22 year old Zanda Lee Gonzalez, were arrested Oct. 14 and charged with one count each of drug trafficking. The two remain in the Marshall County Detention Center on $25,000 bond. Entrekin said Cervantes is without legal status and will be held for Immigrations and Customs after the drug charges are dealt with.

DEU Commander Rob Savage said the methamphetamine seized is 96 to 98 percent pure, meaning it could be “stepped on” or cut three times before being sold on the streets.

Savage said details of the investigation were not immediately released because the agencies involved continued to follow leads and wanted to ensure that making the arrests known would not compromise their efforts.