Diego Fernando Ocampo-Lasso
Diego Fernando Ocampo-Lasso, 49, of Acworth, Ga. was arrested in Whitfield County on Thursday on multiple charges, after he failed to stop at a weigh station.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., an E450 box truck traveling south on I-75 failed to stop at a region one weigh station (southbound mile marker 343) in Catoosa County. The Department of Public Safety (Motor Carrier Compliance Division) pursued the truck and was able to stop it in Whitfield County.
Upon conducting an inspection of the truck it was found to contain a large amount of items (valued at several thousand dollars), which is believed to have been smuggled into the United States from Mexico, including prescription medication.
The MCCD officers contacted the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit and a joint investigation was initiated. It was determined the suspect driving the truck had been delivering prescription and non-prescription, as well as scheduled drugs, and other items from the truck to different businesses in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia. Some of the items seized included birth control, Viagra, and antibiotics. Not all the drugs found have been identified due to the labeling on the containers.
These items were manufactured in other countries and not approved to be sold and/or distributed in the United States. Officials do not believe this was the suspect’s first involvement in distributing smuggled items in the states. In addition to numerous items recovered from the truck, officers also seized almost $10,000 in cash the driver had in his possession.
The driver, and only occupant of the vehicle was identified as Diego Fernando Ocampo-Lasso. He has been charged with unlawful practice of pharmacy without a license, sale/ distribute/ possess dangerous drugs, and failure to register as a drug distributor. An immigration hold has also been placed on him by ICE. The Drug Enforcement Administration is assisting MCCD and WCSO in the investigation.
The investigation will continue.