Police Bust Drug Trafficking Ring Encompassing Cedar Park, 40 Pounds Of Pot, Weapons Seized

CEDAR PARK, TX — The Cedar Park Police Department joined other law enforcement agencies in breaking up a drug trafficking ring yielding the seizure of some 40 pounds of marijuana, officials said Wednesday.

The police department's narcotics unit teamed up with the Leander Police Department,the Dallas and Austin divisions of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Counterdrug Task Force in a seven-month investigation involving a series of drug trafficking cases, including two cases of interstate trafficking, police said.

Dubbed "Operation Clean Sweep," the effort began in September 2016 with a local tip about high-level narcotics activity in Cedar Park and the surrounding areas, police said. During the course of the investigation, the multi-agency team determined that three groups were acting in cooperation to manufacture, transport and distribute drugs throughout Central Texas, officials said.

The initiative netted 10 arrests including Matthew Eric Weiner, 28, who was arrested at his residence on April 27. Weiner was found with about 40 pounds of marijuana he reportedly confessed to purchasing in Portland, Ore. before it was shipped to Austin. The identities of the other nine arrested weren't disclosed by police.

Weiner subsequently was booked into the Travis County Jail and faces possession of marijuana and intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance charges in addition to a parole violation, officials said.

During the course of the investigation, officials said the team also seized seven pounds of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 230 prescription pills, six bottles of prescription syrup, 64 pounds of marijuana, 274 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of psilocybin, $190,194 in drug profits, 3 pistols and 7 assault rifles.

The street value of the drugs is approximately $252,700, police added.

>>> Booking photo of Matthew Eric Weiner courtesy of Cedar Park Police Department, photo of team from same source.