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With FBI's Kash Patel, West Virginia officials announce busts of two sprawling drug gangs - WV MetroNews.Alongside FBI director Kash Patel, West Virginia law enforcement officials announced the takedown of two multi-state drug trafficking organizations that led to 13 federal arrests with the likelihood of more.“The mission is teamwork.If you’re going to crush violent crime and defend the homeland, there is no one entity on earth that can do it alone,” Patel said.“It requires partnerships, it requires backing the blue.” U.S.Attorney Matt Harvey led a press conference in Martinsburg about the coordinated federal and local operation that dismantled the two drug trafficking networks operating across West Virginia and Maryland.The enforcement actions were under the authority of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a multi-agency effort aimed at eradicating violent criminal networks and drug-related instability.“These investigations demonstrate our shared commitment to the total elimination of drug trafficking organizations at every level,” Harvey said.Investigations led to the seizure of illegal narcotics, firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in cash and luxury assets.Law enforcement authorities accused the organizations of moving significant quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine into Berkeley and Jefferson Counties by using stash houses and interstate travel over a two-year period.“The message today is clear.Drug traffickers who bring cocaine, crack cocaine, and other dangerous narcotics into the Northern District of West Virginia will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted,” Harvey said.The organizations were two distinct drug trafficking networks that operated in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.While both used similar methods like stash houses and coded communications, they differed in their geographic scale and leadership structures.One network — led by Rohan Broadie, who also goes by “Glama G,” Aneteneh Zewde Terfe and Marvin A.Taaff of the Baltimore and Greenbelt, Md., areas — is accused of using multiple residences and firearms to facilitate their sales.Omari Obeng Stewart, also known as “O,” is accused of routinely traveling between Maryland and West Virginia to supply, coordinate and sell cocaine and cocaine base throughout the region.A second operation was managed by brothers Jorfory and Joroy Twyman of Ranson.Jorfory is also known as “Foy,” and Joroy is also known as “Roy.” They are accused of working together to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and quantities of cocaine base in and around Jefferson County.The main charges against the drug trafficking operations disrupted in West Virginia involve conspiracies to distribute narcotics, firearms violations and maintaining drug-involved premises.While thirteen suspects were arrested initially, several others remain at large as federal prosecutors move forward with the cases in the Northern District of West Virginia.Federal and local agencies said they collaborated on the investigations through a multi-jurisdictional, “whole-of-government” partnership that leveraged the unique expertise and authorities of various organizations.The cooperation was under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative and the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.Patel, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, attended the event at the Martinsburg Police Department and said he wanted to underscore partnership with state and local law enforcement.“It is extremely humbling to be here with multiple special agents in charge for my office, and it’s extremely humbling to see and meet the folks.It’s the best part of my job, coming out, getting out of D.C.,” he said.“As I said outside, it’s pretty darn nice here, and I can’t believe it’s so close to DC.But it’s a privilege and an honor to be here with these folks and work in great communities.” During the execution of search warrants, seven SWAT teams and 100 FBI agents worked alongside local officers.The Martinsburg Police Department, where the press conference was held, served as the central command center and processing station for the operation.Despite the large federal involvement, the investigations were spearheaded by local law enforcement.Specifically, a Martinsburg City police officer, Sgt.Justin Harper, was assigned to the regional task force and was credited with getting the ball rolling through local knowledge.The Martinsburg Police Department was represented by Chief Erin Gibbons, who emphasized multi-agency collaboration and street-level work.“Cases like this do not happen overnight, and they do not happen without dedicated officers like Sergeant Harper and the rest of that crew,” Gibbons said.“Large-scale investigations like this one often begin with good police work at a street level.” Investigative agencies include the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the FBI, Pittsburgh Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Martinsburg Police Department; the Ranson Police Department; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; the U.S.National Guard, Martinsburg; the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, Mid Atlantic Area Field Office; the Bureau of Prisons; the FBI, Washington Field Office; the FBI, Baltimore Field Office; the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department; the Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Department; the Virginia State Police; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Field Office; and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Information.“The FBI and our local, state, and federal partners state loud and clear: crime will pay a heavy price in this region, and we will not stop in the pursuit of keeping your community safe,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec.