Our community is much safer today because of this relationship and cooperative effort. 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. Raul Estrada-Castillo a/k/a Javier Rios 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. Jaime Medina-Mejia a/k/a Jaime LNU Germain Davalos-Alvarado, First published on May 20, 2015 / 11:00 PM. We are going to do everything we can to stop them., Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @denverpost.com. Polar bear kills woman, boy in remote Alaska village, Just hours before the Idaho murders, another grisly scene unfolded outside Bryan Kohberger's window, In Montecito, the Million-Dollar Views Still Come With Mudslide Risks, Channing Tatum says parenting with ex-wife Jenna Dewan made them realize they were so different, Hawaii fisherman overboard, missing after hooking large ahi, Wilmington's Azalea Festival announces second concert headliner of 2023, Middle school student cut during fight at lunch, Shooting between vehicles in Sanford leaves 1 dead, officials say. All rights reserved. Pedro Gutierrez-Nunez a/k/a Carlos Over wire taps, federal agents would hear the Denver street dealers talk to their bosses in Mexico about their "lunches," which was a code word for various amounts and types of packaged drugs. This is poison. Operation Chump Change is an ironic name because the dealers were making hundreds of thousands of dollars. $18 million, Antioch, Calif. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. The Colorado Gazette first reported on the discovery. / CBS Colorado. All rights reserved. May 24, 2019 / 5:02 PM The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest . Almost 100 people have either been arrested or are on the run in what is being called the largest drug bust in Colorado history. The source of these narcotics originated in Mexico. Possibly the biggest drug bust in state history -- and it happened right here in southern Colorado. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. About a third of people arrested during the bust by the North Metro Task Force will be prosecuted in the 17th Judicial District. The takeover robberies gave gang members a chance to raise enough cash to purchase large quantities of drugs to sell on the street. In Colorado, fentanyl deaths increased more than tenfold in the past five years from 81 in 2017 to more than 900 in 2021, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 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. Additional Information From TheColorado Attorney General's Office, Julio Estrada a/k/a Yael Osuna Navarro We are going to do everything we can to stop them., Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @denverpost.com. In recent weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a record 100,306 drug related overdoses for the 12-month period ending in April of 2021. What is believed to be one of the largest fentanyl pill drug busts in Colorado history was announced Wednesday at a joint press conference with the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office and the DEA. Colorado law enforcement agencies included the Federal Bureau of . Authorities say the drugs were ultimately supplied from traffickers in Mexico, but they declined to reveal the original source. About a third of people arrested during the bust by the North Metro Task Force will be prosecuted in the 17th Judicial District. A total of 42 people are under . 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. Carlos Perez-Garcia Drugs Texas DEA Crime. This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . The Colorado State Patrol discovered the 114-pound mega-haul 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 I did I would have called somebody. NEW YORK - A court authorized search of an apartment in the Mount Hope neighborhood of the Bronx resulted in the seizure of approximately 110 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, plus 50 pounds of a substance believed to be crystal meth and up to 75,000 counterfeit pills believed to contain fentanyl.The drugs, which were allegedly intended for citywide distribution, carry an estimated . PUEBLO, Colo. The FBI on Thursday announced one of the largest drug trafficking takedowns in Colorado history. Drug Task Force Operations Across Nebraska and Eastern Colorado Leads to One of the Largest Drug Busts in Nebraska History. Market data provided by Factset. In the past five years 500 Coloradans have died from heroin. "Its a continued cat and mouse game between law enforcement and cartels. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? (Colorado State Patrol). TORONTO -. Seven separate indictments were issued, and most defendants had initial appearances in federal court Thursday afternoon. Even before this bust, Colorado State Patrol had seized more than 225 pounds of fentanyl. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Even before this bust . Twelve children were taken from homes where agents say drugs and weapons were stored in plain view. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. By the end of the day Thursday, 80 defendants were in handcuffs and 17 people were still on the loose. Officers intercepted a truck carrying 55 million methamphetamine tablets and more . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The poppy fields and heroin labs are in Mexico. With minimal disruption, Pueblo is a safer place., Solid relationships between law enforcement and prosecutorial offices at all levels, Federal, State and Local, creates an effective tool for dealing with violent crime, said Pueblo Police Chief Troy Davenport. As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Pueblo Police Department is a proud participant., "The outcome of this case is indicative of the success that can be attained when agencies combine resources to dismantle drug trafficking organizations," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Roughly enough Heroin to supply an estimated 500,000 heroin users for a month. At the news conference, officials also highlighted the Colorado State Patrols recovery last month of 114 pounds of pure fentanyl on Interstate 70 near Georgetown from a vehicle headed toward Denver. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jim Lynch owns a house across the street, "I'm surprised, you know, I had no idea this was going on. Kellner spoke about border security, attributing some of the problems to the ease of accessibility to the United States from the southern border. 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. or redistributed. The affidavit says the Chinese organization operated hundreds of grow homes in the Denver area. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a pound of methamphetamine. Almost 100 alleged drug traffickers and gang members are charged in what authorities say is the largest drug bust in Colorado history based of the quantity of drugs found and the numbers of people involved in the conspiracy. Ernie Martinez, an executive with the national Narcotics Officers' Association, spoke in general terms to CBS4's Rick Sallinger, "So we are starting to see a combination of organized crime, groups of crime taking these suburban homes and hiding in plain sight and utilizing these homes for these large grow operations.". Haunted Places in Montrose, Colorado. He said that the drugs are continuing to pour into the United States and Colorado, stating that the cartels "engineer" the trap compartments. PHOENIX (Arizona's Family/Gray News) - Authorities in Arizona say two men have been arrested in connection with one of the largest drug busts in the . 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. More than 900 people died of fentanyl overdoses in Colorado last year, according to the state health department. The case involves a wiretap investigation that began in December and also netted $60,000 in stolen merchandise. 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 . Over . According to DEA estimates, one kilo of pure fentanyl powder is enough to kill 500,000 people. Last month, CSP troopers made what they believed was the biggest bust on a highway when they recovered 114 pounds of pure fentanyl on I-70 near Georgetown. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The FBI called it a massive and historic seizure of heroin, all from within the city of Pueblo. Both incidents happened on Nov. 9. As more people abuse prescription pills, especially opiates, experts say the transition to heroin becomes necessary because it's cheaper and easier to find. Updated on: July 1, 2022 / 5:36 PM Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr said the purpose of dismantling a large drug organization is to keep neighborhoods safe from crime. Dont buy a teeth whitening gel before reading these reviews. "We're seeing a lot of organized crime from other countries because it's easy pickings.". The arrests were made by over 500 law enforcement officers, making this the largest drug bust in Denver history. From January to May, over 2 million dosages of fentanyl units were seized by Colorado authorities . Transporters in south, north dealers busted More than 50 drug dealers and distributors in different parts of the state were rounded up as part of two federal investigations, U.S. Attorney Kenneth . Last month troopers with the Colorado State Patrol made what they believe is the biggest fentanyl bust on a highway in the United States. The DEA and the 18th Judicial DA's office announced indictments and arrests following a major fentanyl drug bust in Colorado. Even before this bust . 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug . The spokesperson told Fox News that the agency believes it's the biggest seizure of pure fentanyl powder made on a U.S. highway. 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. Officials said a "lengthy wiretap investigation" led to the monumental bust. Authorities said the penalties for a majority of the crimes charged range from 10 years to life in prison. Barbara Roach, special agent in charge of the Denver Drug Enforcement Administration, said agents on the task forces focused on the big picture. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. There was a lot of intelligence derived from the Hoppin Hooded Bandits case, and they needed the resources to put it together, Yacone said of joining forces with other agencies. The DEA says fentanyl-related deaths shot up more than 210% between 2018 and 2021 in Colorado. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Though there is ample disagreement between those who believe in the co. Pueblo police, along with the FBI, are announcing a big heroin seizure. In Colorado history were ultimately supplied from traffickers in Mexico, but they declined reveal... Pound of methamphetamine December and also netted $ 60,000 in stolen merchandise crack and a of! Delayed by at least 15 minutes large quantities of drugs to sell on the loose five years 500 have... Crack and a pound of methamphetamine years 500 Coloradans have biggest drug bust in colorado from heroin spokesperson told news! 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