A monthslong investigation by the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force ended Saturday, July 25, with the seizure of 11.5 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, body armor, and a handgun from storage units and homes across the county.
Mone Ford, 22, the target of the investigation, was arrested and charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. He is being held in the Galveston County jail on $2 million bail, according to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.
The operation spanned five locations in Texas City, La Marque, and Dickinson. Investigators executed simultaneous search warrants at 31st Street Store and Lock in Texas City, Bo's Self-Storage in La Marque, U-Haul Moving and Storage in La Marque, a residence in Dickinson, and a residence in Texas City.
During the raids, detectives obtained additional intelligence that led K-9 Deputy Alex Sharp and his canine partner, Cash, to perform what the sheriff's office called a "free-air sniff" at another storage unit. A judge issued a follow-on search warrant for that unit, which yielded the bulk of the seized evidence: 11.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 500 pressed methamphetamine pills, 1 ounce of cocaine, 50 fentanyl pressed pills, 3 pounds of marijuana, a pill press, body armor, a Smith & Wesson handgun, and U.S. currency.
Ford faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1 greater than 400 grams and delivery of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1 greater than 4 grams and less than 200 grams. He has not been convicted and is represented by court-appointed attorney Paul Love, who had not responded to media requests for comment as of Tuesday, July 28.
The joint operation involved the GCSO SWAT Team, the Crime Reduction Unit, the GCSO K-9 Unit, and the Houston Homeland Security Task Force. In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office credited Amoco Federal Credit Union for donating the funds to purchase K-9 Cash, saying the investment has paid off in narcotics enforcement across Galveston County.
No other arrests have been announced.
The sheriff's office has not released a court date for Ford or indicated whether additional suspects are being sought. Residents with information related to narcotics activity in Galveston County can contact the Galveston County Sheriff's Office at 409-766-2300 or submit tips anonymously through Galveston County Crime Stoppers at 409-763-8477.
