Largest Meth Seizure In Smyrna's History Ends In 3 Convictions

SMYRNA, GA — Three Sandy Springs men have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved nearly 40 kilograms of 100 percent pure methamphetamine, according to a Monday news release from the U.S. Department of Justice — which called it "Smyrna's largest methamphetamine seizure ever."

According to Kurt Erskine, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, charges and court information, an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration's Atlanta-Carolinas High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program arranged a purchase of 40 kilograms of meth at a business in Smyrna on April 10, 2019.

“Methamphetamine trafficking breeds violent crime and threatens our community,” Erskine said in the release. “We and our law enforcement partners are working hard to combat the trafficking of methamphetamine into and through the Northern District of Georgia, and we will use every tool available stop it.”

Alejandro Salazar-Gama, 31, met the undercover agent and agreed to bring the drugs to the parking lot to show them before selling the drugs to the agent, the news release said. Salazar-Gama then left the parking lot and returned about 40 minutes later.

Shortly after, a van driven by Arturo Acevedo, 22, with Miguel Salazar-Gama, 29, in the passenger seat arrived. When the undercover agent went inside the van, they opened one of the boxes and saw the meth. A Smyrna Police Department SWAT team then surrounded the three men and arrested them.

The three men were sentenced as follows:

• Alejandro Salazar-Gama was sentenced to 11 years and seven months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was sentenced June 17, 2020 after he pleaded guilty.
• Miguel Salazar-Gama was sentenced to three years in prison. He was sentenced on Sept. 15 after pleading guilty.
• Arturo Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was sentenced Sept. 15 after he pleaded guilty.

“This should be a shot across the bow to criminal elements intent on distributing their poison in our communities. Law enforcement agencies in North Georgia are united and determined in keeping our communities safe,” said Dan Salter, director of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).