United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Houston Division, Steven Whipple, Comal County District Attorney Jennifer Tharp, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds and New Braunfels Chief of Police Tom Wibert announced that a combined special task force executed search and arrest warrants culminating in the arrests of 39 individuals as part of Operation: Crystal Lake in Comal County, Texas. These individuals are now in custody.
 
This operation is the result of a 5-month long investigation targeting known mid-level to street-level distributors known methamphetamine traffickers operating in the New Braunfels/Canyon Lake/Comal County area. During the initial phases of the investigation a total of 24 arrests were made, leading to 19 indictments handed down by a Texas State Grand Jury and an additional 4 arrest warrants.

On August 9, 2017, during the early morning hours, the combined special task force executed these warrants. These defendants have been served with arrest warrants and are now in custody, facing a total of 44 felony drug and weapons charges. Operation: Crystal Lake has yielded a total of 11½ pounds of methamphetamine, approximately one pound of cocaine, over 40 grams of heroin, approximately $5,000 in cash, eight (including two recovered stolen), and three (including one recovered stolen).

The goal of Operation: Crystal Lake was to make a significant impact on the distribution of methamphetamine in Comal County, particularly in the Canyon Lake area. Following the execution of this operation the amount of drugs available, and the ability of people to obtain those drugs has been drastically reduced, therefore making the Comal County community a safer place to live and work.

Agencies participating in Operation: Crystal Lake include: DEA San Antonio Office, Comal County Metro Narcotics Task Force, Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, New Braunfels Police Department, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, New Braunfels/Comal County G.O.N.E. (Gang Offender Narcotics Enforcement) Unit, U.S. Marshals - Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and Comal County Constable- Precinct 3.