Officers on the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force executed 11 narcotics search warrants simultaneously at locations across Montgomery on Tuesday 27 October 2026.[1] The searches ended a five-month investigation led by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.[1] Rodriquez Oates, 39, was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking marijuana.[1] Leon Howard III, 42, was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree receiving stolen property.[1] Both were booked into the Montgomery County Jail.[1]
Officers seized 15,932 grams of marijuana, or about 35 pounds.[2] Officers also took 516 grams of MDMA, or ecstasy, equivalent to about 3,400 pills.[1] They seized 243 grams of synthetic marijuana, commonly called spice.[1] A further 33 grams were cocaine and crack cocaine.[1] Detectives found five firearms, including one confirmed stolen in Montgomery.[1] They recovered three AR-style upper receivers with magazines and ammunition.[1] The operation also yielded $14,157.93 in US currency.[1]
State Bureau of Investigation agents assigned to the task force, the agency’s Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit, SWAT team and aviation unit also took part.[1] Local partners included SWAT teams from the Montgomery, Prattville and Wetumpka police departments and sheriff’s offices in Montgomery, Autauga, Chilton and Lee counties.[1] Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also helped.[1] ALEA said additional charges and arrests may follow and that the investigation remains open.[1]
