Drugs, guns and money seized in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation traffic stops

PINE RIDGE, S.D. - Over the past couple of weeks, authorities on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation say several traffic strops led to the seizure of drugs, guns and alcohol used during illegal trafficking. According to Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety (OST DPS) Highway Safety, multiple people now face charges after troopers confiscated crystal meth, cocaine, unregulated or illegal marijuana, alcohol intended for illegal distribution, five concealed or prohibited firearms, and a significant amount of cash connected to drug transactions.

“These proactive operations yield and prevent the flow of deadly narcotics. Narcotics, that continue to affect our relatives and are the major underlying causes of dangerous criminal activity,” said OST DPS Highway Safety.

The traffic stops were part of the ongoing “Safe Homelands” operation, a collaborative effort involving Patrol K9 Teams, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) partners, and OST DPS troopers. Together, they aim to curb the trafficking of drugs and other illegal substances on the reservation.

People with information about drug trafficking are encouraged to help out by calling the OST DPS tip line at (605) 867-5111.