Law Enforcement Agencies Join Forces In Southern Oregon Drugs And Weapons Bust
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — In Merlin- 9 miles northwest of Grants Pass, a drug-related search warrant was executed at around 4 pm on Monday, February 5th. Officers from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) team, together with the Grants Pass Police Department, Medford’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oregon State Police Explosive Unit, and Homeland Security made a significant bust in the 300 block of Colonial Drive in Merlin.
The coordinated effort of multiple law enforcement agencies uncovered a cache of illicit substances and weapons. The perturbing inventory included several ounces of methamphetamine, 8 firearms (3 of which had been reported stolen), a significant amount of US currency, as well as illegal explosives. The find included blasting caps as well as other high-grade explosives. As he was allegedly connected to the seized contraband, Michael Dills was taken into custody and is housed at the Josephine County Jail.
Operating under the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, the RADE team is operated through funding from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
The unit has a multi-disciplinary policing approach which combines the skills of the dedicated members of the Grants Pass Police Department with those of the Josephine County Community Corrections, the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, and the Oregon State Police. By coordinating the various agencies and delivering vital funding, the HIDTA program supports multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives such as RADE.
Underscoring the power of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies, the success of this arrest highlights the role of the team in combating drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
As an effective multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force, the RADE team spearheads the operations of law enforcement agencies. Using an intelligence-driven, prosecutor-supported approach across multiple agencies, RADE identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations at the local level, across all states, and at international levels.
Police Find Drugs, Firearms and Explosives: Suspect Arrested
The man who was arrested in Monday’s bust- Michael Dills, is facing charges of Felony Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. Additional drug and gun-related charges against Dills were announced by the team as they intend to pursue further action which is being referred to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office for legal action.
The Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) asks the public to report illegal drug activity to the RADE tip line at 541-450-6373, or by email.
