ALABAMA — A narcotics investigation by the Decatur Police Department led to the arrest of three people Thursday, authorities said.
The department’s Vice/Narcotics Unit began investigating illegal narcotics distribution within city limits in October and November. On Nov. 20, officers from the Vice/Narcotics Unit, Criminal Investigations Bureau, and Patrol Bureau executed a search warrant in the 1400 block of 1st Avenue SW.
Investigators made contact with Edwin Lorenzo Ramirez, Rolando Edwin Ramirez Vargas, and Ana Ramirez Perez. During the search, police seized a trafficking amount of opiate pills, multiple firearms—including one altered into a fully automatic handgun and another reported stolen through Huntsville Police—and a large amount of cash.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was called in to assist due to the altered firearm.
The individuals were charged as follows:
- Edwin Lorenzo Ramirez: Possession and conversion of a pistol into a machine gun and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm; held without bond.
- Rolando Edwin Ramirez Vargas: Drug trafficking; held on $100,000 bond.
- Ana Ramirez Perez: Drug trafficking; held on $100,000 bond.
Police said the cash and several vehicles were determined to be proceeds from narcotics distribution and were seized pending condemnation proceedings. Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues. All three were transported to Morgan County Jail.
