Feds investigating suspected drug trafficking incident near Three Forks

Jonathan Athens (10/28/09)

Three men remain behind bars as state law enforcement officers ---and now federal drug agents--- investigate what they believe is a marijuana trafficking operation that ended yesterday after a two hour chase in Three Forks.
Yesterday at around 9 a.m., a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped a car because it had tinted windows which is illegal under state law. In the course of making that stop, the trooper discovered marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle. Two of the three occupants, an 18 year old man and a 24 year old fled on foot.
Troopers detained the third man, a 36 year old at the scene.
For the next two hours, 25 officers from six law enforcement agencies raced on foot and in the air to track down and arrest the other two. They arrested the two men in two hours.
All three remain in the Broadwater County jail pending charges.
Authorities have released more details since they arrested the three men but they are not elaborating, saying the incident remains under investigation.
Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Wisniewski confirmed, the amount of marijuana officers found in the vehicle was for sale and distribution.
In addition, he said officers confiscated two handguns, one of which is a .357 revolver.
Wisniewski said investigators are checking to see if the handguns are stolen.
He also confirmed, one of the three men is an illegal alien, the other two are U.S. citizens.
Authorities have not released the names of the three men.
Check back at www.ktvm.com for updates and tune in to the News Chanbel for more information as it becomes available.
Anchor/Reporter Jonathan Athens can be reached at jathens@ktvm.com or (406)586-0296 Ext. 105.