EUGENE — A police operation targeting a Lane County drug trafficking cell led to the largest single methamphetamine seizure in Oregon history.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in a press reported the Sept. 15 takedown of a drug trafficking leader and several associates netted 384 pounds of methamphetamine valued at more than $1 million.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was the lead while the Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department and Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted in arresting the cell’s leader, Martin Manzo-Negrete aka Javier Cardenas-Manzo, 47, of Eugene. Federal prosecutors charged him with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Manzo-Negrete has a long history of drug trafficking, according to the press release, and previously served 14 years in federal prison. He made his first appearance in federal court on Sept. 16. The court detained Manzo-Negrete pending further proceedings.

Police during the operation also arrested four of Manzo-Negrete’s associates who also now face federal drug charges: Gustavo Manzo-Mares, 45; Candice L. Barrett, 52; John C. Willis, 59; and Nathan Lee Daniels, 46, all of Eugene. A fifth associate, Frank Buehler, 52, also of Eugene, has been charged, but remains at large.

Law enforcement executed federal search warrants at multiple locations in Lane County as part of the operation. In addition to methamphetamine, officers seized 14 firearms — some of which were stolen — and more than $76,000 in cash.

According to the press release, the DEA and the Eugene Police Department Street Crimes Unit began investigating the Manzo-Mares cell in October 2020 for its role in trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine from California to Oregon for resale in and around Lane County. The cell transported large quantities of methamphetamine by car from Southern California to Oregon. Once in Oregon, the drugs were stored, divided and then distributed into the community.