FQ has the right idea on this. Wasn't it 35 years after the "Freedom Rider" killings in Mississippi that Byron De La Beckwith got convicted, and they were buried under a dam.
You can bet your bottom dollar that if there is that much drug activity going on there then there are people who have been busted before and will be busted again, some one will rat for a reduced sentence.
The long prison sentences handed out for drug offenses were what broke the Mafia, guys might do 10 years and keep their mouth shut, but start handing out 100 year sentences and you wind up with the entire Bonano Family, from the Boss down ALL informing.