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. 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. 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. The big case first started out as four separate investigations one of them dubbed Operation Double Trouble until law enforcement realized the cases had common links and connections involving narcotics. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Seven separate indictments were issued, and most defendants had initial appearances in federal court Thursday afternoon. That's compared to 150 pounds all of last year. Legal Statement. Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a pound of methamphetamine. DEA agents began seizing 10 and 20 pound loads. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Unsuspecting users taking drugs they dont know are laced with fentanyl have created a deadly phenomenon and burgeoning public health crisis in Colorado. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest . Francisco Villanueva a/k/a Pancho 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 . It determined members of the "Chinese Drug Trafficking Organization" were supplying marijuana to Asian Pride members. John Graham It is one of the largest drug trafficking takedowns in the history of Colorado, and the Pueblo Police Department said its one step in making the streets safer. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. By the end of the day Thursday, 80 defendants were in handcuffs and 17 people were still on the loose. 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. Ivan Haro-Perez At the time, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said it was the second-largest bust ever, behind only a 5,000-pound bust in December 2019 in Laredo, Texas. 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. Lisa Caudron 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. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills declared one, 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, Seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills declared one of largest ever in Colorado, Colorado now second state to have a majority of women in the statehouse as session begins, Colorado Springs man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for fentanyl-related death, More than 80K fentanyl-laced pills seized in Aurora after four-month investigation, Opinion: In Denver homelessness is a housing problem for the next mayor to solve, Online sales, wage protection, car registration fees and other Colorado laws go into effect Jan. 1, Man arrested in hit-and-run crash involving four pedestrians on Wazee in Denver, Evergreen man accused of making threats of mass violence against FBI, Homeland Security and arts group, recovery last month of 114 pounds of pure fentanyl, 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Monday, February 29, 2016. If you need help or are having issues with your commenting account, please email us at [email protected]. If convicted, they face between five years to life in prison. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. 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. Ever.. 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. It was the "largest and most complex heroin bust in the history of the Rocky Mountain region," according to the Colorado Attorney General's Office. So far the details surrounding who might have been arrested haven't been revealed. If you want to make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand to treat a future breakout, acne patches are the answer. July 6, 2022 / 12:19 PM $18 million, Antioch, Calif. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. "It didn't seem to faze them that much.". The local gangs should be on notice, he said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Federal authorities and local law enforcement have completed the biggest drug sweep in Nebraska's history, U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg said Friday. Market data provided by Factset. The investigation started in December with a traffic stop by a Pueblo police officer. 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. Authorities seized nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamines worth roughly $18 . 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. In addition to the large quantities of fentanyl seized, the investigation also found the organization in possession of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, numerous firearms, and US . As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. Colorado State Patrol Smuggling, Trafficking and Interdiction Unit Captain Bill Barkley said that the agency isn't disclosing the identity of the driver due to potential retaliation from Mexican cartels, and didn't state why the car was stopped. The takeover robberies gave gang members a chance to raise enough cash to purchase large quantities of drugs to sell on the street. If I did I would have called somebody. The arrests were made by over 500 law enforcement officers, making this the largest drug bust in Denver history. The task force said it seized more than $500,000 cash; 35 guns, including a machine gun and several others that were stolen; methamphetamine; cocaine; and 60 pounds of heroin. 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 smugglers . 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. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The one thing we dont tolerate in communities like this is the poison of heroin and the violence of illegal gun use and possession, Troyer said. Fentanyl in Colorado has been an increasingly troubling issue. In 1991, police officers seized 59 boxes containing 1080 pounds of Heroin, with a street value ranging from $2.7 billion to $4 billion. First published on July 1, 2022 / 2:37 PM. Drugs Texas DEA Crime. Roughly enough Heroin to supply an estimated 500,000 heroin users for a month. Operation Chump Change is an ironic name because the dealers were making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Authorities said the penalties for a majority of the crimes charged range from 10 years to life in prison. The DEA says fentanyl-related deaths shot up more than 210% between 2018 and 2021 in Colorado. 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. 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. Haunted Places in Montrose, Colorado. Anti-aging serums in particular offer many benefits to aging and mature skin. Even fruit-flavored incarnations of the pill are being found, some being etched with the BMW or Mercedes logos, they said. Luis Soto-Castro Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. If you need help or are having issues with your commenting account, please email us at [email protected]. In the past five years 500 Coloradans have died from heroin. This series of cases reflects forensic partnership policing at its best, said Troyer. 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. In the first, 42-year-old Raymond Cabrera was arrested after police seized 28,500 fentanyl pills, 7.5 ounces of methamphetamine, 2 grams of cocaine, over $3,100 . Legal Statement. Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a pound of methamphetamine. Both incidents happened on Nov. 9. Federal officials hold a news conference in Denver on Thursday to announce a major drug bust. ", The results of this long investigation are now becoming clearer. 0:39 . "We're seeing a lot of organized crime from other countries because it's easy pickings.". From January to May, over 2 million dosages of fentanyl units were seized by Colorado authorities . April 11, 2022 / 9:11 PM / CBS Colorado. 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. . Largest Database of Etowah County Mugshots. 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 things that you see in these pictures and that poison spawns violent crime, Pueblo police chief Troy Davenport said. Jesus Contreras a/k/a Jesse Carlos Perez-Garcia 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. What triggered this investigation was the very violent activity of some hard-core gang members, said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates. This is poison. The owner of Heaven Dragon restaurant in Thornton was sentenced to prison in 2010 following an investigation known as "Operation Fortune Cookie. As more people abuse prescription pills, especially opiates, experts say the transition to heroin becomes necessary because it's cheaper and easier to find. (Colorado State Patrol). Read more about our new commenting system here. 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. Officials said a "lengthy wiretap investigation" led to the monumental bust. The driver was pulled over on June 6. 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. 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