The Cherokee Indian Police Department, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Indian Affairs arranged the purchase of one kilogram of methamphetamine through Walter Paul Linn. Linn is a drug trafficker who traffics kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine from the Atlanta, Ga. area.
The above listed agencies initiated an operation to safely lure Linn to a meeting location, controlled by law enforcement. Prior to Linn’s arrival, agents learned that he had an outstanding warrant for a Probation Violation – Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Linn arrived at the location, along with a female identified as Lindsey Marie Sikkema, and they were safely taken into custody by agents on the morning of Thursday, July 18, without incident.
During the course of the investigation, agents seized approximately 526.1 grams of crystal methamphetamine (street value $53,136.10), approximately four grams of heroin (street value $472.00), approximately two and a half grams of marijuana (street value $21.16), and approximately $2,600 United States Currency (“USC”).
Cherokee Indian Police Dept. Chief of Police Doug Pheasant commented, “I am extremely proud of this collaborative effort and this team’s dedication to stopping drug trafficking on the Qualla Boundary and Western North Carolina.”
(Note: CIPD officials did not release any information regarding charges against Linn or Sikkema as a result of this operation.)
– Cherokee Indian Police Dept. release
