Six suspects from Mexico were arrested on March 10, 2020 in Georgia by federal agents after an East Tennessee bust led to the seizure of more than 900 kilograms of meth with an estimated street-value of $13 million, according to the criminal complaint.

The case stemmed from an incident in which police officers found 500 grams of meth inside a “pelican case” located beside a wrecked car in East Tennessee. Both the driver and passenger were soon located nearby and admitted they had traveled to North Georgia to purchase the meth through a woman named “Maria.” Law enforcement confirmed their story after the driver consented to a search of his phone.

Geolocation data from the suspect's phone soon led investigators to a hotel in North Georgia where Maria was believed to be staying. After witnessing what investigators saw as suspicious activity, a male suspect emerged from the hotel carrying a Doritos bag, got into his vehicle and headed back north toward Tennessee. State troopers in Tennessee then initiated a stop after witnessing the suspect commit a traffic violation.

Before the vehicle could be stopped, the suspect, Cody Andrew Seals, began firing shots out of his vehicle. After troopers rammed the suspect's car forcing it to stop, the suspect emerged with an assault rifle and a dramatic shootout ensued. Both the suspect and a trooper were shot, but neither sustained life-threatening injuries. 1.5 kilos of meth were found in the Doritos bag along with 500 grams of heroin.



Pictured: Cody Andrew Seals

Troopers also initiated a traffic stop on Maria and another suspect after observing them leave the hotel, but both were permitted to continue on their way.

Geolocation data from phones used by Maria eventually allowed investigators to focus on a home in Conyers, Georgia that Maria visited frequently approximately 30-40 minutes from where she lived. Police were able to obtain a federal search warrant for the property after observing unusual behavior not typical of the surrounding neighborhood.

Before the raid could take place, police witnessed Maria and another suspect leave her residence and decided to stop her vehicle. The two suspects fled but were quickly apprehended.

Later that evening, police executed the search warrant on the suspected stash house and found over 800 kilos of meth hidden within compartments of a bus and a tractor trailer that were located on the property. Police estimated the street-level value of the seized meth to be over $13 million.



Pictured: Stash house in Conyers, Georgia

Photo Credit: Google Maps' streetview

Read the full criminal complaint with affidavits below.