Police also found 20 firearms at the two locations. According to the documents, some of the drugs sold by Tapia-Rubio were brought in from Mexico, via California. The drugs are estimated to have a street value in the millions, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. In the latest bust, authorities seized 170,000 fentanyl pills outside of an Aurora apartment. Phillips called the operation a sophisticated group with numerous international and interstate ties and said it has been operating in the Denver region for several years, trafficking high volumes of drugs on a weekly basis. Lizalde and Angelique Torres, who were both in the car, are facing felony drug charges. Major drug bust on 6/1/21 in Rio Grande County, CO. (Center PD) CENTER, Colo. (KKTV) - Authorities uncovered what were believed to be "operating drug distribution centers" in a small Colorado . Most opioid addicts dont seek out fentanyl due to the extremely high risk of incurring a fatal overdose, Dunn said. Sources: months -long investigation cocaine/ Meth distribution from Mex. DENVER Special agents, police officers and deputy sheriffs on Thursday arrested 80 people on drug and/or gun charges, announced the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado. Greed is a traffickers main motivation. Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Gregory Thomas, Chief of the Aurora Police Department (APD), announced today the arrest of three individuals for violation . Its crucially important to include a financial component in investigations of drug-related crimes, Amanda Prestegard, acting special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigations said. The masked pills caused elevated concern among federal authorities, Dunn said. Law enforcement officials reported last month that more than 2 million dosage units of fentanyl were removed from Colorado communities so far this year. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. There was a 403 percent increase in the number of pounds seized of fentanyl between 2017 and last year on Colorados highways. 21, 2022 at 1:05 PM PDT. Darren Weekly said he has seen the drugs flow like wildfire into Highlands Ranch and Ken Caryl neighborhoods and warned parents to be aware of what their children are doing on social media. Deputies found 274 marijuana plants and 60 pounds of packaged pot in an illegal grow operation. I have never seen anything like this in my life.. "The Boss" performed in Colorado as part of his Springsteen E Street Band 2023 Tour and also surprised a Denver store owner a few hours before the show. Those 11 people are included in a federal indictment that was released later on Tuesday. 24-year-old Hernan Ramirez was arrested in late December after a monthslong investigation. A 19-year-old Arizona man is under arrest in Colorado's high country after authorities found large amounts of drugs in his car. The AURORA |Federal authorities on Wednesday unsealed a 30-person indictment that outlines the workings of a sophisticated drug cartel that for years was pumping hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine throughout Colorado. The Denver Police Department will continue to arrest those who prey on those who suffer from addiction, Chief Paul M. Pazen said in a news release. Denver Restaurant Week is officially upon us! Authorities also recovered 10 guns during the investigation, which began in January 2019. Colorado Drug Bust: Heroin, Cocaine & Fentanyl Found Phoenix Man's Car A 19-year-old Arizona man is under arrest in Colorado's high country after authorities found large amounts of drugs in. Example video title will go here for this video. If convicted Vallejo-Gallo could face 20 years to life in federal prison. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than where we should be for this time of year. Bulk fentanyl quantities like this hold the caliber of weapons of mass destruction-type concern, Besser said Wednesday. When bought in bulk, fentanyl pills that used to cost $8 to $10 can now be found for just $1. Although drug runners were taken off of the streets, their positions will be refilled soon enough. Fatal doses involving the drug have skyrocketed since 2015, and last year, more than 800 Coloradans died after , It sounded just like a plot out of Breaking Bad. The indictment claims that a person named Julian Green was the "leader and supervisor" of the operation. It is in your neighborhood, it is saturated everywhere.. Kellner acknowledged that stopping this operation will only put a temporary pause on business. They also confiscated 9.4 pounds of heroin, a 2.2 pounds of cocaine, four guns including an AR-15. Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. illicit drug in the past year. The Special Operations Unit found $18,645 in cash, 250 grams of marijuana, 231 Xanax pills, 108 oxycodone, 25 pills of molly, and a digital scale all in the car. Come Wednesday, families will be receiving their SNAP benefits without the additional emergency allotments they've been getting for the last three years. BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Three people have been arrested in Beaufort County on drug charges and deputies say the street value of the drugs seized is . On Wednesday, the department shared details on the case . Two people got caught with an illegal psilocybin mushroom grow and other drugs in a Lyons home. No one is immune from this drug crisis. Plastic bags stuffed with drugs that was inside a child's backpack. The Denver house is located on Race Street where Mills was arrested. Ive never seen anything like this. The availability and accessibility of fake pills (laced with fentanyl) right now is absolutely staggering. Special Agent Garrett Croon (312) 829-1199. However, groups like Vallejo-Gallos are increasingly manufacturing the potent opioid to bump their profit margins by camouflaging it as more sought-after and expensive prescription pills. "These are usually going into the hands of our teenagers and our younger adults out there, so anytime you can get a good arrest like this, any hit that we can make that takes this out of the hands of the kids, that's great," Spayth said. Largest Database of Colorado Mugshots. A Mexican national who was residing in Aurora illegally, Vallejo-Gallo and her group used overland traffickers and UPS shipments to get drugs to the metroplex, according to Dunn. 5. Read More. ROKU: add the channel from theROKU storeor by searching for KUSA. Food Bank of the Rockies says statewide, that's about $53 million to $55 million less per month. for the State of Colorado (19.3 percent) but is higher than the national rate (14.7 percent) (Figure 1). They are available everywhere and can be obtained with little effort.. 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. There are about 6 million people living in Colorado.Editor's Note: A previous version of the story said the amount of fentanyl seized could kill as many as 25 million people. Another option for Fire TV is to have the appdelivered directly to your Fire TVthrough Amazon. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. Today our community is safer, Phillips said. She could be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison if convicted. It was led by Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran, 30, of Thornton, according to the DEA, who they said coordinated the drug shipments and deals from Mexico. It's a favorite destination for foodies, putting the spotlight on the city's food scene through hundreds of local restaurants. Published: Jun. State and federal authorities confiscated 200,000 fentanyl pills, 9.4 pounds of heroin, a kilogram of cocaine and multiple firearms in an operation they say culminated in one of the largest seizures of fentanyl pills in Colorado history. Powdered cocaine is abused throughout the greater metropolitan area, and crack cocaine is abused primarily in northeastern Denver and in Aurora, just outside Denver. The record haul from last months bust was packed into 48 one-kilo blocks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Officials have arrested 24 of the people mentioned in the indictment on a slew of charges, including racketeering, money laundering and conspiracy to distribute various drugs. Besser said he worries that fentanyl could soon be laced into vape products, which are already incredibly popular with many younger users. The Drug Enforcement Agency and the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced the bust Wednesday in Centennial, saying eight people have been indicted on allegations they were. Courtesy of the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Dean Narciso The Columbus Dispatch 0:00 1:38 The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office announced late Friday afternoon the indictments of 79 people and the seizure of nearly $6 million in drugs in. - 43 pounds cocaine The big storm system from the southwest is still on track to move across southern New Mexico. The influx of fake prescription opioids is a growing and deadly concern for this office and the law enforcement community as a whole, he said. All rights reserved. They also confiscated 9.4 pounds of heroin, a kilo of cocaine, four guns including an AR15 rifle and a 9 mm handgun, and an undisclosed amount of cash. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. What do you think. Deputies conducting a routine traffic stop in Adams County took one person into custody after finding methamphetamine, fentanyl, and stacks of cash in the car. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. Click here to view all charges. FBI identifies Aurora woman as suspected kingpin of Mexican drug ring busted in metro area U.S. Attorney photo Authorities seized 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 15,000 fentanyl pills, five pounds. CBS News Colorado has learned that a veteran Denver police lieutenant is under investigation after he struck and killed a pedestrian. 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The identity of the cars driver is being kept secret to protect his family from retribution from drug cartels. Yates is Pierce's sister. The case involves a wiretap investigation that began in December and also netted $60,000 in stolen merchandise. On Tuesday, a local mail sorting center contacted police after co Federal and local law enforcement are executing warrants related to a drugdistributionbust in the Denver metro area Thursday morning. According to the 1999 and 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), 8.9 percent of individuals age 12 and over surveyed in Colorado reported having abused an illicit drug in the month prior to the survey compared with 6.3 percent nationwide. In one shipment recovered by authorities, drugs were hidden in a childs backpack and mailed through UPS to a woman in the ring who had children, Dunn said. SAFFORD Safford Police arrested a man who reportedly admitted to having an estimated 40 grams of methamphetamine for "personal use.". The fentanyl flooding Colorado this summer is cheaper, now comes in pink and white, and is sometimes laced with the taste of monk fruit. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver area. The suspects, aged 25 to 71, were rounded up following an investigation that authorities have called 'Colorado's largest marijuana bust' since the drug was legalized for medical use in November 2000. It's the largest drug case in recent history out of the Franklin County, Ohio, prosecutor's office and including 79 people indicted and more than $5 million of narcotics . Police in Arvada got quite a surprise while conducting a search warrant for narcotics distribution. The Adams County Sheriff's Office says they were part of a large task force which took down a massive drug bust. Besser said the I-70 and I-25 corridors are where the deadly drugs head East while money heads South. Drug dealers are now resorting to innovative methods to flood the market with fentanyl-related substances so they can have maximum appeal to unsuspecting users, Besser said. In 2020, drug overdose deaths were up 34% in Colorado. Because of its central location, Colorado is now a critical trans-shipment hub in the West for drug smugglers, officials warned, and the price has become right. After another large bust, drug enforcement officials warn the public not to get weary of fentanyl news, Hondu Multiservicios, LLC at 6671 Federal Boulevard, according to the grand jury indictment obtained by The Gazette, Report: Reliever Brad Hand signs with Colorado Rockies, Jamal Murray's big second half serves as last laugh vs. old friend and Memphis Grizzlies, National park in Colorado ranks 4th most-visited nationwide, others rank much lower, Locals concerned about possibility of Colorado's 43rd state park, COLUMN: Pandemics bureaucrats betrayed our trust | Jimmy Sengenberger, EDITORIAL: Legislators want local heroin injection sites, Brewers' Bracket: Vote for your favorite Denver or Front Range brewery, DENVER GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Politics and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get the news that matters most delivered to your inbox, Colorado's fentanyl crisis: Full coverage, Alleged driver of record fentanyl haul in Colorado is MIA, Class-action suit filed against parental evaluator who said he disbelieves 90% of domestic violence allegations, Wine sales in Colorado grocery, convenience stores begin this week, In search of fairness: Tug-of-war between jury inclusiveness and juror impartiality reaches Colorado Supreme Court, Rent control bill heads to Colorado Senate with uncertain future, Colorado legislators kill 'fair workweek' bill requiring payment to workers for 'show-up time'. Investigators intercepted several shipments of drugs, Phillips said. 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. The student group Denver East Students Demand Action led a walkout from class Friday morning to call for legislative action on gun safety measures. Law enforcement hasnt yet arrested the original dealer, believed to be in Mexico, who coordinated with the group. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. Besser said a lot of drugs pass through Denver because of its central location, but he stressed that not everything is gloom and doom. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Odom Memorial Community Drug Bust locations in Aurora, CO. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. In the search of his home and his two vehicles, police said they found more than 80,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, 500 grams of suspected Xanax and more than $1,800 cash. Obviously with the nexus of I-25 and I-70, Colorado seems I think to have a disproportionate share of interstate drug trafficking that flows through our state, Dunn said. But it is also very cheap to produce either in China or Mexico. The Colorado legislature may finally let it. Investigators said it is believed the drug trafficking ring in Colorado has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Recently passed legislation is working to change things, however. Private and rental vehicles and commercial trucks fre-quently are used to transport drugs into and through Colorado. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. AURORA | An Aurora woman has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to transport large quantities of illicit drugs from Mexico into the U.S., according to the Department of Justice. Electric vehicles are the future, at least that's what Colorado's Energy Office is hoping. The three suspects were identified as 25-year-old Martin Eduardo BustosTorres, 23 . The fentanyl pills recovered by authorities were packaged and disguised to look like prescription drugs a tactic used to make the drugs more appealing to users, Dunn said. An Aurora woman led an extensive international drug trafficking organization that distributed high volumes of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl throughout Colorado, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn said at a news conference Wednesday. Three Arrested in Aurora Drug Sweep. (WLBT) - Two people were arrested for having possession of over $200,000 in drugs, along with a few firearms, In Hinds County on Wednesday, January 25. Win tickets to Cheyenne Frontier Days, The Daddy of 'Em All before tickets go on sale! About 170,000 pills were seized in April from a vehicle outside an apartment complex in Aurora. 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. Five people were discovered dead inside a Colorado apartment where a 4-month-old baby was also found alive after what police are investigating as a drug-fueled party involving fentanyl . AURORA, Colo. A 24-year-old man was arrested on drug charges late last month after a four-month investigation. The Aurora woman, Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who is either 41 or 42, was charged with running the primary operation. The illicit drug has been seen on state highways more than ever before. Lieutenant Greg Spayth says the incident was a sizable bust that will keep these drugs off the street. Listen now. But make no mistake: In this case, my understanding is the drugs here were actually bound for Colorado. Tapia-Rubio is named in the court records, among 13 other people. Another six people were also charged as a result of a year-long investigation: four members of the alleged ring who remain at large in Mexico, one who remains at large in the United States and one individual who is in state custody, Dunn said. 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As of March 31 in Colorado, a total of about 1.1 million fentanyl pills have been collected although DEA Special Agent Brian Besser said he believes that number has doubled since three months ago. PHOTO BY QUINCY SNOWDON/Sentinel Colorado, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn, at the lectern, speaks with reporters Feb. 19, 2020 providing details of a massive drug bust involving Aurora suspects. Drug and weapons suspect in Maven Hotel bust worked construction, has child, and lengthy criminal history Managers also noted that the person who was renting one of the rooms had requested to. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis, Besser said. Court records show he's been charged with the following felonies: Ramirez' next court date is scheduled for Jan. 6. APD estimated the drugs' street value at more than $200,000. Youth are especially vulnerable, Besser said, as they are targeted on social media to purchase these drugs creating an unparalleled accessibility.. The alleged network was based in Colorado and distributed drugs to several counties and cities in the region, including Denver, Aurora, Commerce City, Lakewood, and Thornton. I called this press conference because behind the scenes there is aggressive and tenacious police work and prosecution being done to save lives and bring justice," Besser said. It will be a mild and dry start to the weekend. 4, Clovis PD Special Enforcement Team (S.E.T.) Deputies say Payton Yates and Keith Tacy were living at the house. (CBS4) - The U.S. Department of Justice says a drug strike force dismantled a major drug dealing operation which was working in Denver and Aurora. 8, 2021 at 9:32 PM PDT. As the spring homebuying season approaches, affordability is at its lowest point in history, one economist said. Authorities seize over 11,000 units of counterfeit fentanyl in Hinds County drug bust (MDPS) By WLBT.com Staff Published: Feb. 1, 2023 at 12:43 PM PST HINDS COUNTY, Miss. Aurora only hired 17 new police officers last year. On Feb. 28, the drug task force made up of officers from the Safford, Thatcher, and Pima Police departments, Graham County Sheriff's Office, and Arizona Department of Public Safety, raided the residence at about 6:45 a.m. by announcing their presence via a loudspeaker and breaching the front door using door rams and pry bars.