Oklahoma sees meth addicts fueling surge in cattle rustling

By Heide Brandes OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - One of the oldest Wild West crimes, cattle rustling, has been making a comeback in Oklahoma in recent years, with major culprits being methamphetamine addicts selling stolen livestock to pay for their drug habits, officials said. This week, Oklahoma identified five people suspected of being in a cattle rustling ring, arresting two suspects. Cattle thefts cost ranchers about $4.5 million last year, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture said. "Cattle rustling has been around since Moby Dick was a minnow, but the price of cattle has doubled and tripled in the past few years, and theft is on the rise," said Jerry Flowers, chief agent of investigations for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.



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