Governor Reeves Announces Results of Coast Mobile Enforcement Team Deployment

Statement

Governor Tate Reeves today announced the results of the Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) deployment that took place on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. This effort involved the surging of law enforcement personnel and resources into coastal communities.

"This operation means far more than just drugs and criminals off the streets. This means safer neighborhoods, safer roads, less threats to our kids and families, and an improved quality of life," said Governor Tate Reeves. "We've sought to undermine existing criminal enterprises and to bolster the ongoing efforts of local law enforcement leaders and that's exactly what this deployment accomplished."

The plans for the deployment and the partnership between multiple local, state, and federal agencies was first announced by Governor Reeves on May 11, 2022.

The coordinated law enforcement operation's goal was to directly target and counter violent crime, deter narcotics distribution, get illegal firearms off the streets, and keep communities safe. The initiative was led by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

The MET deployment netted 170 arrests and resulted in 152 felony charges and 111 misdemeanor charges.

Two human traffickers were arrested. One trafficker was a United States citizen, while the other trafficker was an illegal alien. They were arrested attempting to smuggle a total of nine illegal aliens into the country. These arrests were a result of two separate stops initiated by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Both traffickers are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and the nine illegal aliens were transported to a detainment facility for processing.

Additionally, the following narcotics and items were seized:
5,574 dosage units of fentanyl
3.5 ounces of heroin
16 grams of cocaine powder and crack cocaine
50 dosage units of LSD
5 ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms
4.9 pounds of marijuana
21 ounces of THC wax and edibles
43 firearms
$207,109 in currency
2 stolen vehicles

The following agencies participated in the MET Deployment:
Mississippi Department of Public Safety
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics
Mississippi Highway Patrol
Mississippi Office of Homeland Security
Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division
Mississippi National Guard Counterdrug Unit
Mississippi Department of Corrections
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Mississippi Department of Revenue, Alcoholic Beverage Control
Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
FBI Safe Streets Task Force
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations
Hancock County Sheriff's Department
Harrison County Sheriff's Department
Jackson County Sheriff's Department
Bay St. Louis Police Department
Biloxi Police Department
D'Iberville Police Department
Gautier Police Department
Gulfport Police Department
Long Beach Police Department
Moss Point Police Department
Pascagoula Police Department
Pass Christian Police Department
Ocean Springs Police Department
Harrison County Fire Service
American Medical Response

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