Two Men Arrested in Ashland on Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

Ashland, Oregon- The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) team has arrested two men suspected of methamphetamine trafficking in Southern Oregon following a long-term investigation. Gabriel Calderon, 42, of Madera, California, and Randall Banks, 62, of Sonora, California, were detained on November 5, 2024, after MADGE officials made contact with them and a vehicle in Ashland, Oregon.

Authorities executed a search warrant on the vehicle, resulting in the discovery and seizure of approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Both Calderon and Banks were lodged in the Jackson County Jail and face multiple charges, including Unlawful Delivery, Unlawful Manufacture, and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.

MADGE, a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force, specializes in identifying, disrupting, and dismantling local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking networks. The organization follows an intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach, operating with prosecutorial support. The Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), funds MADGE and other multi-agency efforts to combat regional drug trafficking and enhance public safety.

The MADGE team includes personnel from the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Point Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, Parole and Probation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI. With support from HIDTA, MADGE continues its work to limit the impact of drug trafficking in the Southern Oregon area, maintaining its focus on public safety and drug crime prevention.

Both Calderon and Banks await further court proceedings as investigations into the scope and extent of their suspected drug trafficking activities continue.