Snitch case from hell targets South Asians in GA

Here's an odd twist on the use of snitches in the drug war. The spread of laws limiting sale of meth "precursors" have led to law enforcement targeting South Asian convenience store owners in rural Georgia, the New York Times reported today. Forty four of 49 defendants in the case are South Asian, while white store owners were mosty ignored. Reported the Times:

Documents filed by the A.C.L.U. yesterday include a sworn statement from an informant in the sting, saying that federal investigators sent informants only to Indian-owned stores, "because the Indians' English wasn't good." The informant said investigators ignored the informant's questions about why so many South-Asian-owned stores were visited in the sting.

Other filings said prosecutors had several tips that more than a dozen white-owned stores were selling the same ingredients, but failed to follow up on them.

The case reminds me of an incident Catonya mentioned in Wichita Falls where an Iranian convenience store owner received a life sentence for selling meth precursors.

UPDATE: Turns out there's a campaign website for "Operation Meth Merchant," with its own blog, no less. Thanks to Bob for pointing to the link in the comments.

NUTHER UPDATE: Pete at Drug War Rant relays an anecdote about precursor laws run amok.