COOKEVILLE – In recent days, as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the Upper Cumberland region, TBI Special Agents, working alongside several other agencies, have assisted in securing the arrests of four individuals and continue their search for two additional subjects.

On Tuesday, investigators received information that a shipment of cocaine was on its way to Tennessee from Texas. Agents developed information and initiated surveillance of a vehicle, which led to the arrests Wednesday in Clay County of Roberto Jimenez, 34, and Eladio Delasancha, 60, by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Following the arrests, authorities discovered two kilograms of cocaine under the hood of the vehicle.

Later on Tuesday, as a result of the same investigation, TBI Agents and officers from the Celina Police Department arrested Fidel Catalan Diaz. At the time of this release, charges connected to the drug operation were pending as Diaz was being held on an immigration violation in the Clay County Jail.

On Wednesday, as part of the continued investigation, authorities executed three search warrants at residences in the Cookeville area believed to be associated with this drug operation. The warrants resulted in the seizure of weapons, cocaine, and marijuana, along with the arrest of 36-year-old Maritza Cantu on a charge of Possession of Cocaine for Resale. Authorities continue their search for two additional individuals, believed to be involved in the operation, who remain at large. At the time of this release, photographs of the four individuals in custody were not available.

For more than a year, TBI Agents have investigated this widespread drug operation, with the assistance of the 13th District Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Appalachia HIDTA Middle Tennessee Drug Task Force, the Monterey Police Department, the Cookeville Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Crossville Police Department, the Celina Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, the Pickett County Sheriff’s Department, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Published by Josh DeVine