Delaware State Police announced the end of an operation dubbed “No Ma” (no more) led to the arrest or indictment of 28 individuals on 252 felony charges, along with the seizure of drugs, weapons and $260,000 in suspected proceeds.
No Mas, was conducted by the Delaware State Police, New Castle County Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and has culminated with the arrest or indictment of 28 individuals on 252 felony charges. Multiple search warrants were executed which led to the mass seizure of drugs, guns, and suspected drug proceeds.
Investigators received information starting in 2018 about an illicit drug dealing network involving the Renteria Criminal Organization. The organization used multiple individuals all with a specific role to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
Investigators have linked the criminal organization to violent crimes in the area, including a homicide in the city of Wilmington.
No mas led to the seizure of:
- Approximately 7,519.5 grams of Fentanyl (7.5 Kilos)
- Approximately 4,215.5 grams of Cocaine (4.2 Kilos)
- Approximately 1,114 grams of Crack Cocaine (1.1 Kilos)
- Approximately 537 grams of Heroin (.5 Kilos)
- Approximately 45.3 lbs. of Marijuana
- 14 Doses of LSD
- 288 Xanax Prescription Pills
- 20 Firearms
- Over $260,000 in suspected drug proceeds
All departments involved in this large scale criminal investigation were represented at the press conference. Delaware State Police Superintendent, Colonel Melissa Zebley summarized the significance of this investigation,
“This investigation exemplifies the shared public safety mission of Delaware law enforcement agencies in concert with our federal partners. While we can see the scope of illegal drugs and weapons seized, it is hard to measure the full gravity this criminal organization could have had in our communities. The team of committed investigators has made our state and region safer today.”
There were two other guest speakers to include Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field House, Jennifer Boone, and Attorney General of Delaware, Kathleen Jennings. Special Agent Boone stated,
“Dismantling the Renteria organization and getting these illegal and lethal drugs off the street could be the difference in life and death for so many Delawareans. However, our fight against illegal drugs is far from over. The FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling the most significant gangs through intelligence-driven investigations, new and longstanding initiatives, and local and transnational partnerships. Here in Delaware our Safe Streets Task Force has already assisted in the arrest of more than 60 violent and dangerous individuals this year. We have taken more than 30 illegal weapons off the streets. We continue to work with our law enforcement partners but we need the community’s help as well to send us tips and report crimes .”
