The study's Law Enforcement category includes sub-metrics such as "Number of Drug Arrests per Capita," in which Colorado ranked 41, "Number of Drug Arrests on College Campuses per 1,000 Students . Juan Jose Santiago-Rivera Officers intercepted a truck carrying 55 million methamphetamine tablets and more . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The FBI called it a massive and historic seizure of heroin, all from within the city of Pueblo. It is a great relief that we are taking these suspects off the streets today.. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Jaime Medina-Mejia a/k/a Jaime LNU Luis Soto-Castro All rights reserved. Federal authorities and local law enforcement have completed the biggest drug sweep in Nebraska's history, U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg said Friday. Colorado law enforcement agencies included the Federal Bureau of . Jose Vidal Leon-Penuelas Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . They actually hire people to engineer trap compartments," Barkley said. Leonard Aragon, of Pueblo, charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute heroin. More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. Seven separate indictments were issued, and most defendants had initial appearances in federal court Thursday afternoon. April 11, 2022 / 9:11 PM / CBS Colorado. Operation Chump Change is an ironic name because the dealers were making hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Drug Enforcement Administration and attorney general's office says the abuse of prescription pills -- opiates -- has fueled a heroin explosion now being seeing in Colorado, and youngsters are among the ones using heroin most. Drug Task Force Operations Across Nebraska and Eastern Colorado Leads to One of the Largest Drug Busts in Nebraska History. "They can readily and easily take it out of the bag and give to the customers and move on with their day without law enforcement seeing them.". We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Besser said he worries that fentanyl could soon be laced into vape products, which are already incredibly popular with many younger users. Updated on: July 1, 2022 / 5:36 PM / CBS Colorado. Updated August 28, 2017 4:01 pm. Since 2015, Besser said the drug landscape has shifted considerably, moving from organic heroin to synthetic pills, which are both more discreet and more lucrative for cartels. / CBS Colorado. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! July 6, 2022 / 12:19 PM There is an unindicted co-conspirator that we are yet to identify as the primary source that would coordinate with this drug trafficking ring, Kellner said. Legal Statement. Youth are especially vulnerable, Besser said, as they are targeted on social media to purchase these drugs creating an unparalleled accessibility.. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. By the end of the day Thursday, 80 defendants were in handcuffs and 17 people were still on the loose. Pedro Gutierrez-Nunez a/k/a Carlos Authorities said the penalties for a majority of the crimes charged range from 10 years to life in prison. Over . But only now after busts this week are indictments being revealed. Ever.. More than 900 people died of fentanyl overdoses in Colorado last year, according to the state health department. Legal Statement. Investigators said the bust is the largest drug haul in the world in terms of both value and quantity. The local gangs should be on notice, he said. Federal authorities found over 26,000 grams of cocaine, a pound of methamphetamine, 1,000 grams of crack, 11 weapons including a couple of assault rifles, and over $415,000 in cash. Pueblo police announced Thursday the seizure of $8 . Barbara Roach, special agent in charge of the Denver Drug Enforcement Administration, said agents on the task forces focused on the big picture. The court affidavit says the case grew from a previous case involving restaurateur Dan Tang. Law enforcement say heroin is an epidemic in Colorado with overdose deaths increasing 600 percent. The record haul from last month's bust was packed into 48 one-kilo blocks. The investigation started in December with a traffic stop by a Pueblo police officer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "We're seeing a lot of organized crime from other countries because it's easy pickings.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Though there is ample disagreement between those who believe in the co. Vasquez was the owner of the raided and now shuttered Get Your Fix Auto Body, where agents said he would fix vehicles and load up customers with baggies of illegal drugs. The DEA says fentanyl-related deaths shot up more than 210% between 2018 and 2021 in Colorado. So numerous are the illegal pot grow operations that they have become almost commonplace. Twelve children were taken from homes where agents say drugs and weapons were stored in plain view. Our team of experts has selected the best teeth whitening gel out of hundreds of options. Lufthansa makes lone offer for Italian legacy airline, Twitter auctions off blue bird memorabilia, pricey, Colorado lawmakers look to cap price of EpiPen, Tool can help customers get canceled flight refunds, See preliminary snowfall totals as they come in, At least 9-vehicle pile up on I-70 near Strasburg, Storm tapers off, leaving multiple inches of snow, Troopers car struck by several vehicles on C-470, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Drug Enforcement Agency and the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office announced the bust Wednesday in Centennial, saying eight people have been indicted on allegations they were smugglers and distributors in a drug trafficking organization that focused on methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid. "And we could kill 25 million people with what was hidden in a car.". Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies arrested 75 people on drug and/or gun charges February 9, 2012, making it the largest drug bust in Denver h. The indictments were returned earlier this year but only unsealed now. The poppy fields and heroin labs are in Mexico. That's compared to 150 pounds all of last year. Read more about our new commenting system here. All rights reserved. . We are going to do everything we can to stop them., Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @denverpost.com. . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Some 66,000 pot plants were seized and 4,500 pounds of finished marijuana products in what is the largest marijuana operation in Colorado law enforcement history. Jesus Contreras a/k/a Jesse Almost 100 people have either been arrested or are on the run in what is being called the largest drug bust in Colorado history. Our community is much safer today because of this relationship and cooperative effort. Monday, February 29, 2016. Here are some of Canada's largest drug busts over the last 25 years. The owner of Heaven Dragon restaurant in Thornton was sentenced to prison in 2010 following an investigation known as "Operation Fortune Cookie. "(It) might be considered chump change to this organization because they cleared many millions of dollars in selling hard drugs," Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said. 114 pounds of pure fentanyl powder was recovered. It determined members of the "Chinese Drug Trafficking Organization" were supplying marijuana to Asian Pride members. A total of 42 people are under . In a story which has more mystery than explanation, the Mexican army was . / CBS Colorado. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. $18 million, Antioch, Calif. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. ", The results of this long investigation are now becoming clearer. 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. DENVER (CBS4) - The numbers contained in a court affidavit are enormous: 227 search warrants were executed during a multi-year investigation into homes being turned into marijuana grow houses. Agents are investigating the possibility the drug cases may have links to unsolved homicides throughout the metro area, said the FBIs Special Agent in Charge, James Yacone. Unsuspecting users taking drugs they dont know are laced with fentanyl have created a deadly phenomenon and burgeoning public health crisis in Colorado. The DEA's Operation Chump Change put a big dent into a large drug trafficking group that spanned several states with the ring leaders based in Colorado. or redistributed. Once we focused on them, our investigation led to a complex narcotics conspiracy. The Colorado State Patrol reported that it has seized 225 pounds of fentanyl through the first half of this year, compared to 150 pounds in 2021. ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The Adams County Sheriff's Office says they were part of a large task force which took down a massive drug bust. CU Buffs 2023 football schedule announced, AR-15 style rifle marketed for children showcased at Las Vegas gun convention: Despicable, Freshwater fish are significantly more contaminated with toxic forever chemicals than saltwater fish and shellfish, analysis shows, Polar bear killed a woman and a boy after chasing residents in Alaska town, Colorados major ski resorts could get a foot or more of snow this week, WATCH: White shark surprises boy in stunning fishing encounter off Fort Lauderdale, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Many if not most were homes that had been rented or bought in suburban neighborhoods. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Roger Bujanda, Jesus Mercado Valdez, Gage Rael, Leonard Aragon and Daniel Vasquez were identified as major sources in the supply of heroin and all five were arrested. "Whether or not its on I-70 or on I-25, or its on secondary highways coming into our state, I would bet every hour of every day there is something.". LOS ANGELES SCHOOL STUDENTS INGEST ECSTASY PILLS LACED WITH FENTANYL, SUPERINTENDENT SAYS. The driver was pulled over on June 6. An official with the Colorado State Patrol told Fox News that the agency stopped a car that was headed toward Denver on Interstate 70 near Georgetown when they made the discovery. The Colorado State Patrol discovered the 114-pound megahaul hidden underneath a trap door beneath the front seats of a vehicle during a traffic stop. In my opinion, bulk fentanyl quantities like this hold the caliber of weapons of mass destruction-type concern when we take into consideration the worst possible outcomes of this poison being pushed out in mass to our communities, said Brian Besser, the special agent in charge of the DEAs Denver Field Division. If youre here to bring poison and violence into the community, hell is coming to breakfast, acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer said. Ive never seen anything like this. Jose Noel Villegas-Soto a/k/a Noel LNU They were mothers, sons, sisters, and cousins, selling drugs in one of Camden's most dangerous neighborhoods, authorities said. Police in Laos have made the biggest single drug seizure ever recorded in Asia, according to the United Nations. AURORA More than 500 law enforcement agents have arrested 80 people in what prosecutors are calling one of the biggest drug operations in Denver's history. Nearly 100 charged in largest drug bust in, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Crash involving 9 semitrailers, 12 other vehicles in Arapahoe County closes I-70 to Kansas border, Nearly 100 charged in largest drug bust in Colorado history, Man arrested in hit-and-run crash involving four pedestrians on Wazee in Denver, After slow start, widespread winter storm dumps snow and creates headaches across Colorado, I-70 express toll lanes soon will cost up to $4.50 for a faster trip through northeast Denver, Colorado weather: Winter storm warning issued for metro Denver, northeast plains ahead of "significant" storm, Denver metro area school closures for Jan. 18, 2023, Colorado snow totals for Jan. 17-18, 2023, Colorado weather: Heavy winter storm could hit at the end of Tuesday's commute, residents encouraged to stay put tomorrow, Lone Tree shelter-in-place order lifted after SWAT finds body while serving eviction, Flight cancellations begin at DIA as winter storm approaches, Man's body found on Arvada sidewalk near bus stop, Colorado weather: Over 7 inches of snow falls in Denver as storm continues Wednesday morning. @ denverpost.com Medina-Mejia a/k/a jaime LNU Luis Soto-Castro all rights reserved the world in terms of both value quantity. 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