Police Chief Returns From Mexico After Covert Meth Investigation

HOOVER, AL — A delegation of law enforcement members from Alabama recently returned from a covert trip to Mexico and to the State of Sinaloa — home of the Sinaloa Cartel — a group that included Chief Nicholas Derzis of the Hoover Police Department.

On September 11, the delegation of twelve federal, state and local law enforcement officials traveled to Mexico to investigate the illegal narcotics trade there. The delegation was briefed in Mexico City at the highest levels, according to U.S. Attorney Jay Town.

"The efforts and actions of this Alabama delegation underscores the commitment and lengths to which law enforcement in the state will go to ensure the safety of its citizens and fully understand the breadth and sophistication of the enemy we face," Town said. "That enemy is not just the cartels. It is not just the dealers. That enemy is also addiction and abuse. The entire delegation owes its thanks to the DEA for making arduous coordination look effortless."

The delegation was in country for less than 72 hours, traveled nearly 5,500 total miles and was constantly under the heavily armed protection of United States and Mexican law enforcement.

A video of the findings from the investigation can be seen here.

The members of the delegation were:

• Jay Town – U.S. Attorney, Alabama Northern District
• Louis Franklin - U.S. Attorney, Alabama Middle District
• Richard Moore - U.S. Attorney, Alabama Southern District
• Clay Morris – Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham, New Orleans Division
• Sean Stephen – Group Supervisor, Birmingham, New Orleans Division
• Steven Marshall, Alabama Attorney General
• John Harold Taylor – Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary
• Kevin Turner - Sheriff, Madison County, Alabama
• Barry Matson – Executive Director, Alabama District Attorney’s Association
• Nicholas Derzis – Chief of Police, Hoover Police Department
• Robert Broussard – District Attorney, Madison County, Alabama
• Bryan Taylor – General Counsel, Governor of Alabama

"It is the hope and prayer of this delegation of law enforcement executives that the citizens of Alabama understand that we are steadfast in our combined efforts to keep our communities safe," said DEA Special Agent Clay Morris, "Collectively, we will not tolerate the destruction drug trafficking brings to our great state. We witnessed firsthand the lengths Mexican drug cartels will go to fuel the disease of addiction. We are resolved to do everything in our power to stem the flow drugs into Alabama."