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Agents seize 27 pounds of meth Photo by Bob Pennell A safety-gloved DEA agent shows some of the methamphetamine seized in Jackson and Klamath counties. 10-month investigation yields 8 arrests By JIM DAVIS Federal agents and police seized more than 27 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested eight people in a two-day sweep of six homes in Jackson and Klamath counties. Bundled in duct-tape and plastic wrap, the meth is nearly as much of the drug as was seized in Jackson County during the past two years. "This is very unusual," said an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency in Medford, who declined to be identified. The people arrested in the case pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Medford. Their trial was set for August 17. Officials would not say what specific charges were brought. The arrests and seizures come just two days after Jackson County became one of three Oregon counties named as federal "high intensity drug trafficking areas." Sgt. Jim Anderson, commander of the Jackson County Narcotic Enforcement Team, said methamphetamine is the biggest drug problem in the Rogue Valley. He said Medford is "a hub for drugs coming into this area and being distributed outward." DEA agents said they spent 10 months on an undercover federal investigation into drug trafficking in the Rogue Valley and the Klamath Basin. Federal agents along with state and local police searched homes in Medford and Jacksonville and in Klamath County on Tuesday and Wednesday and completed their searches early Thursday morning. They seized the methamphetamine as well as two handguns, three pickup trucks, a car, pagers, cell phones and a large amount of cash. They did not find any meth labs and did not know where the methamphetamine was coming from, an agent said. All together, the 27 pounds of meth equals 12,285 grams, with an estimated street value of $2 million. According to JACNET, police seized a total of 4,627 grams of meth in Jackson County last year. Police found 8,079 grams the year before. DEA agents said there were two separate drug trafficking organizations at work, but declined to go into much detail about the investigation. In Jackson County, agents arrested: Ernesto Banuelos-Chavez, 41, of 4770 S. Stage Road, Jacksonville. Jose Banuelos, 39, of 4770 S. Stage Road, Jacksonville. Jose Anibal Reyes-Joya, 39, of 221 Holly St., Medford. Arnoldo Madrigal-Cardenas, 32, of San Jose, Calif. In Klamath County, agents arrested: Rodrigo Rivera-Becerra, 20, of Klamath Falls. Jose Guadalupe Inda-Parra, 25, of Klamath Falls. Gerardo Parra-Lopez, 18, of Klamath Falls. Patti Lorraine Mota, 28, of Klamath Falls. If convicted, they face prison terms of 10 years to life. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA