Federal agents arrest alleged ringleader of massive drug organization based in southeast Michigan

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The alleged leader of a major drug ring in southeast Michigan has been arraigned in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

37-year old Carlos Powell was arrested by federal agents in Eastpointe Wednesday morning.  Powell is one of 12 people named in an indictment that details the operation of the massive international drug ring.

A not guilty plea was entered on Powell’s behalf.

Powell had no comment as he left the courthouse in downtown Detroit late Wednesday afternoon.

“When you talk kilograms of heroin that’s something we don’t see on a regular basis here in southeast Michigan, said Rich Isaacson, special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “As many as 25 kilos to 30 kilos of heroin were seized from this organization.”

The government says the ring has been operating since 2006.  According to court documents, $10 million in cash has been seized and as well as 25 to 30 kilos of heroin while executing a series of search and seizure warrants across southeast Michigan.

“When you see a million dollar seizure and it happens on a regular basis that tells you this organization was generating a lot of funds from their illegal activities,” said Isaacson.

In addition to cash and drugs, agents seized several boats and luxury vehicles, including a 2006 Bentley Continental.

Drugs were purchased in Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona and elsewhere, according to the indictment and transported by semi-trucks to metro Detroit where they were sold.

“We are focused on dismantling major drug trafficking organizations that bring illegal drugs into our community,” U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said in a statement. “We want young people to see that the lucrative rewards from drug trafficking are short-lived and lead to criminal charges.”

Former state representative Kenneth Daniels of Detroit was among those arraigned Wednesday.

Daniels, 53, faces one count of aiding and abetting a financial transaction.  It is alleged he purchased a 2007 Mercedes GL 450 for Powell, but used two cashier’s checks to cover up the sale.

Daniels, a Democrat, served the fifth state house district from 1999 to 2004.