The office of U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland announced Tuesday the arrest of 10 defendants in an operation led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency against an alleged drug trafficking operation based in North Little Rock.

Law enforcement “seized nine firearms, 189 oxycodone pills, 187 alprazolam pills [Xanax], 61 ecstasy pills, and several pounds of marijuana” as a result of the bust, a press release said.

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The indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury earlier this month, alleges that Michael B. Webb, Jr., directed a ring that distributed drugs throughout Pulaski County and surrounding areas. Webb was already in state custody. Of the 10 arrests today, nine were in Arkansas; the 10th arrest, in Clarkson, Washington, was of Terry W. Morrison, who allegedly supplied the defendants with marijuana by shipping it through the mail.

Hiland said in a statement that the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to combat the distribution of opioids in Arkansas.

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“The opioid epidemic has inflicted an unprecedented toll of addiction and suffering on
communities throughout our nation,” Hiland said. “We recognize the Eastern District of Arkansas is not immune to this epidemic, and we will continue to work with the DEA and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who illegally traffic these deadly substances.”

The full press release.

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The indictment against Webb, et al.