biggest drug bust in colorado

As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. Market data provided by Factset. Carlos Perez-Garcia Major fentanyl drug bust in Colorado. The Colorado Gazette first reported on the discovery. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis, Besser said. 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The takeover robberies gave gang members a chance to raise enough cash to purchase large quantities of drugs to sell on the street. Authorities said the penalties for a majority of the crimes charged range from 10 years to life in prison. John Graham Lisa Caudron Authorities say the drugs were ultimately supplied from traffickers in Mexico, but they declined to reveal the original source. The FBI called it a massive and historic seizure of heroin, all from within th The four weapons seized included an AR-15-style rifle and a 9 mm handgun, authorities said. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and . "It's a quick and easy, accessible way for the sources of supply to talk to their workers up here and make sure it's a seamless business system," said Agent Rob Saccone with the DEA Strike Force. Read more about our new commenting system here. In a story which has more mystery than explanation, the Mexican army was . There are no needles, no track marks. The things that you see in these pictures and that poison spawns violent crime, Pueblo police chief Troy Davenport said. The raids have been going on for well over a year. This series of cases reflects forensic partnership policing at its best, said Troyer. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, more than 900 people died of fentanyl overdoses in Colorado last year. Barbara Roach, special agent in charge of the Denver Drug Enforcement Administration, said agents on the task forces focused on the big picture. A year-long investigation disrupted a . 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. 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 . Please enter valid email address to continue. Once we focused on them, our investigation led to a complex narcotics conspiracy. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Pedro Gutierrez-Nunez a/k/a Carlos Though there is ample disagreement between those who believe in the co. 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 . / CBS Colorado. Updated on: July 1, 2022 / 5:36 PM / CBS Colorado. Jaime Medina-Mejia a/k/a Jaime LNU Last month troopers with the Colorado State Patrol made what they believe is the biggest fentanyl bust on a highway in the United States. "In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis and how it is adversely affecting our communities," said Brian Besser, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Denver Field Division. 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. Woman charged as 'drug kingpin' in bust of Denver metro area drug trafficking rings Four hundred pounds of meth, five pounds of heroin, four pounds of cocaine, and 15,000 fentanyl pills were . Oscar Acosta-Estrada a/k/a Danny 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 . Published: Nov. 2, 2017 at 12:18 PM PDT. 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. 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 . We have brought to justice the high-level criminal bosses, money launderers and drug dealers who were profiting from the most vulnerable in our communities across the Denver metro area, she said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Ricardo Santiago The arrests were made by over 500 law enforcement officers, making this the largest drug bust in Denver history. 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. 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. The source of these narcotics originated in Mexico. DENVER (CBS4) - State, federal agents and prosecutors say they have arrested 34 people in a heroin distribution sweep that resulted in 57 state and federal indictments. "It didn't seem to faze them that much.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. From January to May, over 2 million dosages of fentanyl units were seized by Colorado authorities . More than 500 state and federal officers from 40 law enforcement agencies made arrests in cities along the Front Range, surprising defendants in their pajamas. First published on July 6, 2022 / 12:19 PM. We are confident this case will send a message to those contemplating trafficking heroin and other dangerous illegal narcotics they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10. Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a pound of methamphetamine. Although Tranquilandia is referred to as a drug lab, it's actually much bigger. Martinez says Colorado is being taken advantage of. Law enforcement officers say they arent done yet. The bust on June 20 had the potential to kill over 25 million people, according to those figures. 5.5 ton Mexico cocaine bust. Even before this bust, Colorado State Patrol had seized more than 225 pounds of fentanyl. Francisco Villanueva a/k/a Pancho document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The court document says the investigation began in the summer of 2016 looking into what was called the "Asian Pride Drug Trafficking Organization." Monday, February 29, 2016. 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. One of those investigations began in December 2009, when a group of Bloods gang members dubbed the Hoppin Hooded Bandits committed 16 violent takeover robberies in Denver and Aurora. The 114 pounds of pure fentanyl powder was found below the passenger and driver seats, reachable by a trap door, and were in 48 one-kilo bricks. . Jesus Contreras a/k/a Jesse 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. "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.". 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Jeff Graham Meet the news team or contact us. . Once we focused on them, our investigation led to a complex narcotics conspiracy. 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. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. If convicted, they face between five years to life in prison. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the amount recovered by authorities is enough to kill more than 25 million people if it were ingested. 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 . "Let me put that into perspective; the entire population of the state of Colorado is 6 million people," Besser said. / CBS Colorado. Dangerous individuals and their poison and weaponry are now gone. 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. If youre here to bring poison and violence into the community, hell is coming to breakfast, acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer said. Even before this bust . Additional Information From TheColorado Attorney General's Office, Julio Estrada a/k/a Yael Osuna Navarro 114 . 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Our team of experts has selected the best teeth whitening gel out of hundreds of options. But neighbors are certainly caught off guard when the busts happen. The local gangs should be on notice, he said. What triggered this investigation was the very violent activity of some hard-core gang members, said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates. Twelve children were taken from homes where agents say drugs and weapons were stored in plain view. "(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.