A Major Drug Bust in Portage County Lands 17 Alleged Drug Dealers Behind Bars

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A Major Drug Bust in Portage County Lands 17 Alleged Drug Dealers Behind Bars A major drug bust in Portage County ends with 17 people behind bars and 46 others facing charges. Reporter: WSAW staff A Major Drug Bust in Portage County Lands 17 Alleged Drug Dealers Behind Bars

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Portage County Sheriffs deputies, Stevens Point Police and the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force have been working together for the past 16 months to uncover the illegal operation.

Since May of 2005.. officers from the central wisconsin drug task force have been going undercover and buying drugs.
In all, they made 185 drug purchases from 63 alleged dealers.

The Portage County Sheriff tells us the accused dealers are all ages..
The youngest is 15and the oldest is in their mid-fifties.
The accused dealers allegedly sold a variety of drugs including cocaine, marijuana, and prescription pain medications like oxycontin, vicodin, and morphine.
The sheriff says most of the people sold more than once.
"Parents selling their own children's prescription medicine, or children selling their own parents or grandparents prescription medicine.. that seems to be the new trend in central Wisconsin," said Sheriff John Charewicz.
The stevens point chief of police says this trend is making it easier for more people to buy and sell.
This investigation also led to a major cocaine bust that took place last fall.
The Sheriff says authorities seized 34 ounces of cocaine..valued at 90 thousand dollars..
The Sheriff says people with warrants out will be making an initial court appearance on March 1st.
The other accused who are summoned.. will appear in court on March 12.
If found guilty the District Attorney says most serious offenders could face six to 12 years in a maximum security prison.