Couple Smuggling $3 Million Worth Of Cocaine In Shootout With Police In Texas

(PatriotPostNews.com) – A couple from Tennessee that was transferring large amounts of cocaine through the states was killed in a shootout with Texas police last week.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Edward and Elizabeth Stevenson had been on law enforcement’s radar since being identified in a number of undercover deals with illegal drugs. They were killed during a traffic stop-turned-shootout on Thursday, May 9.

While working undercover, police managed to obtain a search warrant for the couple’s house. There, almost one pound of methamphetamine, fentanyl, firearms, ammunition, and body armor was recovered. Investigators also found, during the search last week, that the Stevensons were headed through the Lone Star State in a semi-truck. They were armed and carrying illegal drugs.

Before they were pursued, the couple had both made statements indicating their willingness to be killed via “suicide by cop” should they be apprehended by police. Tennessee authorities quickly informed Texas law enforcement about the couple, who was pursued on the road in Donley County.

However, when police moved to pull over their vehicle, the Stevensons kept driving for multiple miles. After finally stopping, the couple began shooting at police, who returned fire and killed the suspects.

Roughly 64 pounds of cocaine was found in the vehicle, with an estimated worth of $3.4 million. Police believe the shipment was headed to Tennessee. The deadly pursuit ended only after 60-year-old Edward Stevenson collided into several other vehicles in an effort to evade police. Deputies following the vehicle reportedly came up alongside it and shot the tires to stop the semi-truck.

According to Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris, the notorious open border policy at the southern border is to blame for a number of the issues with drugs—connected to Mexican cartels—that have been transported into Cookeville and Middle Tennessee. He added that his county’s violent crime rate is largely impacted by the illegal drug business conducted there.