On Tuesday, St. Louis DEA officials announced the arrest of 36 individuals for methamphetamine trafficking in the region.The arrests on indictments culminated an 18-month investigation that involved a huge money laundering operation in St. Louis and the flow of drug cash to California.Federal indictments were unsealed today against 39 individuals in total, and more arrests are expected.In addition, law enforcement throughout this investigation have seized 190 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of heroin, 16 weapons and drug proceeds totaling just over $1million.The meth seized carries a street value of over $3 million.“DEA and its partners have dismantled a violent drug trafficking and money laundering network operating in the St. Louis region, which will make our streets and neighborhoods safer,” said DEA Special Agent in-Charge James Shroba.“Our efforts will continue to focus on the most significant and violent networks that exploit the weak and addicted and wreak havoc on local neighborhoods and communities. These criminals and their violent acts are why local citizens often don’t feel safe. We hope our efforts make a positive difference in their lives,” Shroba said.Since January 2015, DEA and its partners have been investigating a group of individuals from the city of St. Louis, and St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, and St. Francois counties.In addition to receiving significant meth loads monthly to distribute locally, this network conducted large-scale bulk cash smuggling from the St. Louis region to California by using money couriers. This criminal network also made significant cash deposits at financial institutions throughout the St. Louis region and elsewhere, to assist with the laundering of drug proceeds.In addition to DEA, other participating law enforcement agencies include St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department, St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force, St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.DEA