14 charged in alleged meth trafficking ring in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa– Federal, state and local law enforcement announced a major drug trafficking investigation in Central Iowa Wednesday, with 14 people charged in connection with an alleged methamphetamine trafficking operation.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, FBI, Homeland Security Task Force and other law enforcement agencies announced the charges at the Neal Smith Federal Building in Des Moines.

Eleven of the 14 defendants were arrested Tuesday, Sept. 22, one in Des Moines, one in Marshalltown and nine in Perry.

The arrests followed the execution of 10 federal search warrants.

Authorities seized more than $21,000, six firearms and 18 phones, along with methamphetamine and marijuana. Officials said they could not confirm how much methamphetamine or marijuana was seized.

More than 240 law enforcement officers from 17 agencies participated in the operation.

Officials said the majority of the arrests were made without incident. One arrest involved a defendant who barricaded themselves. This was not related to the barricaded incident in Creston Tuesday.

Local law enforcement began the investigation about 11 months ago, while the FBI became involved in January 2026.

“Today our office and our law enforcement partners who are standing here with me are announcing federal charges against 14 defendants following an investigation to allege methamphetamine trafficking in Central Iowa,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa David C. Waterman said.

“Two federal indictments charge the defendants with offenses including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and other drug trafficking offenses, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Initial appearances began yesterday, September 22nd, and will continue in federal court here in Des Moines.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said investigators allege the group worked together to bring illegal drugs into Central Iowa communities.

“This is a group of people who are alleged to have worked together to bring destructive, dangerous, illegal drugs into our neighborhoods for people to put into their bodies. And it’s important to recognize that the trafficking of meth and other drugs, it’s not a victimless crime.”

Kowel stressed that drugs and drug trafficking don’t only impact urban areas, but rural parts of Iowa too.

Three of the people charged have not yet been arrested. Waterman said law enforcement will continue pursuing those individuals as the investigation moves forward.

“One way to stop people from doing this is that they’re aware that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are going to pursue them. And we are now watching. We have our attention on you,” Waterman said.

“We will investigate these cases to the furthest extent of the law. And I think those three individuals that have not been brought to court should not sleep peacefully this evening.”

Officials say the investigation remains ongoing.

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