Contact, Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved, FreightWaves, Inc, Five biggest Mexico border drug busts of 2020, Loaded & Rolling (Enterprise Fleet News/Analysis), Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border, CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes, $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment, $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof, Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. A traffic stop for a minor violation led deputies to nearly 400 pounds of meth worth $1.5 million. Ryan Rodriguez is charged in all 12 counts of the indictment. Six people have been arrested by ICE on various drug trafficking charges involving crack cocaine. And having a restricted supply increases the money that sellers can demand in exchange for the goods. Changes to city of Albuquerque's Sun Van service raise New process allows anybody to self-certify New process allows anybody to self-certify they are disabled. For a $50,000 . February 16, 2023. NIANTIC, Conn. In a massive drug enforcement operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), more than 100 individuals were arrested early Wednesday in five states and Puerto Rico on state and federal charges related to the large-scale trafficking of heroin and cocaine from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico into and around . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The . googletag.enableServices(); . Nova Scotia RCMP has arrested 14 people and seized a 'significant quantity of drugs, firearms and money,' after police say they disrupted a drug trafficking ring as the result of an 11-month . Edvardo Carlson allegedly conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. . ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. El Diario de Juarez reports that there have been 25 murders, including three people killed this past Wednesday and Thursday. An indictment is only an accusation. and cocaine from Mexico across the border and up I-5 to the . The 16-month investigation targeted members of the Sinaloa Cartel, once headed by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is currently in jail awaiting trial in Brooklyn Federal Court. So, one of the costs of prohibition is death of the consumer. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Gonzales said the dealers arrested were mostly longtime Espaola Valley residents. Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Battle rapper Tsu Surf facing federal racketeering charges October 14, 2022 WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities in Chester County have announced more than four dozen arrests in a major drug . Vigil said he is encouraged by the tone of the Trump administration, which has vowed support and funding to further these operations. Edvardo Carlson is charged in Counts 1, 6, 7, and 8. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. . It is random, if a shipment is caught. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, In an unrelated bust, 39 people were charged as being part of a distribution ring based out of El Paso, Texas and Chaparral, N.M., Gonzales said. Market data provided by Factset. Police responded to the Mountain Run Shopping Center after Chavezs battered wife ran inside the Smiths grocery to hide from him. Have a question about Government Services? Mace said that while the driver wasnt connected to the robberies, it was obvious that something was amiss. He said most members were arrested in Chaparral, Carlsbad and Albuquerque, while others were arrested in El Paso, Denver and Atlanta. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; During the traffic stop, Troopers identified several indicators of criminal activity, and a drug-sniffing K9 was requested to the scene, who subsequently indicated to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. Our region is a rich environment that can be exploited by criminals, said Chief Gloria Chavez of the El Paso Sector. . Seventeen people were arrested apart of the same drug ring on a 66-count indictment. 5. Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. . }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { Were going to make sure that youre always looking over your shoulder, Vigil said about dangerous Mexican drug cartels making their way into Texas. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Ryan Rodriguezs sister, Andrea Rodriguez, allegedly delivered drugs to customers on Ryan Rodriguezs behalf. Market data provided by Factset. Have a concern or an opinion about this story? For now, I can tell you that the goal with this operation is to reduce the availability of heroin and other drugs in the Valley before they and the people who dispense them wreak havoc in the lives of the families who call Espaola and Rio Arriba County home., The operation in the southern part of the state was focused on a family-run drug transporting ring and was part of a larger, national effort called Project Deliverance., Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. 2. (Photos: Hall County Sheriff's Office) (Photos: Hall County Sheriff's Office) The DAs office, Chaves County, Lea County, and the Roswell Police Chief expressed the importance of having federal agencies involved. DRUG CARTELS IN MEXICO BEING TAKEN OVER BY RUTHLESS, BUT CHARMING, WOMEN. Today's takedown marks the latest major drug bust in the OAG's Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (S.U.R.G.E.) Methamphetamine was found in 6,106 of the packages weighing about 17,584 pounds while the other 160 packages contained fentanyl and weighed about 388 pounds, according to authorities. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; Bridget Archuleta Counts 1, 4, 11 and 12. According to the U.S. State Department in Ciudad Juarez, there were 545 murders in 2016, an increase from the two previous years. Photo Courtesy ICE ICE-HSI NEWS U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested six defendants Feb. 17, charged with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Friday, February 7th, 2020 at 12:02AM. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized approximately one million pills laced with fentanyl allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in what authorities say is the biggest bust for . The massive bust was a collaboration between New Hampshire and Maine. Mexican authorities found 25,000 pounds worth of narcotics hidden inside a tractor-trailer that was abandoned just south of the Mexican border on Dec. 6. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Several interstate highways connect Juarez to Albuquerque, the states largest city and a key distribution point for the heroin that pollutes much of the Land of Enchantment. Inside the home they found 33 grams of heroin, 35 grams of fentanyl and 18 grams of methadone along with smaller amounts of PCP, meth and marijuana. Nationwide, from April 2020 to April 2021, the CDC reported 100,306 drug-related overdoses nationwide. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns - some of them stolen - thousands in cash, a. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . Counts 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the indictment charge certain defendants with distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. She said the drug problem contributes to other crime in the area. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Telephone: (505) 346-7274 The special agent in charge of the DEA El Paso Division said operations like this will happen more frequently. Count 3 of the indictment charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The maximum penalty on conviction is 10 years to life in prison. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Christian County prosecutor charged . A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants Feb. 25. It is important to note that an arrest or criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered evidence of guilt. Theyll bring amounts of this size across this border and store them in stash houses until it is large enough to move to other parts of the country, Vigil said. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot2', [[468, 60], [728, 90], [300, 100], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767472470-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); The drugs found included 8,810 pounds of fentanyl and 13,216 pounds of heroin. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); His detention hearing is set for Friday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Vigil told Fox News that while on the surface this may not seem like a major drug bust, it does follow a pattern used by major drug traffickers. Dona Ana. $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Sign up for the New Mexico Sun Newsletter, Juniper Basin Recreation Area will offer 'beautiful landscapes' for future bike park. We will do a few operations a year, we will look at some of the biggest problems or biggest threats in the area and we will go after those but then afterward were gone, but not this time, said DEA Special Agent Kyle Williamson. They targeted violent criminals and drug organizations in Roswell. Assistant U.S. Pitch your story to The New Mexico Sun. In short, drug prohibition creates drug kingpins. An officer who works on a federal drug task force made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Feb. 10. 0:51. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Is it always financially worthwhile to attend one of New Mexicos four-year public universities? Were going to clean up our communities.. New Mexico Supreme Court: Juveniles who plead can appeal Ruling stems from the case of Christopher Rodriguez, who was sentenced as an adult to 14 years in prison for his role in the Universal Hydrogens test plane takes flight. The arrests underscore the tough stance law enforcement officials are now taking when dealing with Mexican drug cartels and street gangs. googletag.cmd.push(function() { BOSTON - A Weymouth man has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed prodigious amounts of cocaine from Puerto Rico, which he and a co-conspirator obtained via the U.S. mail. So what we have to do to make sure that these people dont continue to act and degrade the community here and our quality of life is we bring in our federal partners, said Roswell Police Chief Philip Smith. Click Share This Page button to display social media links. Federal agents arrested them on Feb. 27 with assistance from state and local law enforcement. These types of narcotic seizures and arrests demonstrate the value of our border security mission everyday.. Officials believe the drugs were brought into the U.S. from nearby Ciudad Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso. }); As an anti-prohibition activist, it is interesting that these busts are being made. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. Ryan Rodriguez allegedly acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor. This operation is a first step toward bringing positive changes to the Espaola Valley. All rights reserved. On Oct. 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 3,000 pounds of meth, plus heroin and fentanyl, in a semi-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. AG Sessions vows to eradicate MS-13 gang violence, Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years. SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); 2. kidnapping, false imprisonment and six counts of aggravated battery against a household member in the brutal beating of his wife. We were actually looking for the individuals that were involved in the armed robberies, Mace said. In Denver alone, there were 350 drug overdose deaths between Jan. 1, 2020, and Nov. 30, said Deanne Reuter, special agent in charge with the DEA, at the news conference. (KY3/Gray News) - A teenager in Missouri was charged with murder for a deadly high-speed crash that killed a 9-year-old boy in July 2022. The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. Mexican law enforcement officials made four major drug busts in recent days which yielded over 120,000 lbs. Additionally, defendant Edvardo Carlson is alleged to have conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 3 Mar. A locked padlock WASHINGTON (AP) The Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned a group of people and companies connected to Mexico's powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, including a sibling involved in the family-run Valenzuela drug trafficking organization. An official website of the United States government. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court: Officers served a warrant around 4 p.m. at Chavezs home in the 500 block of Madeira SE, near Zuni and San Mateo, and detained Chavez. googletag.enableServices(); Michael Guzman. googletag.enableServices(); Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta, is alleged to have participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. Baby wipes seized at Mexico border turns out to be $11.8M in cocaine. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. American officials say illicit fentanyl from labs in Mexico is driving a surge in overdose deaths. U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales on Thursday announced federal Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. They were allegedly distributing drugs throught New Mexico and Texas and into Colorado and other states. If Joe can't repay that $50,000, he gets beat up and never sold to again. Declaration began March 11, 2020, and NM is one of five states that still have such orders. Pitch your story to The New Mexico Sun. A 29-year-old who posed as a food delivery driver and tried to smuggle illegal opioids into an Adelaide medi-hotel has . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! John Tavares, 36, was sentenced on Feb. 7, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Leo. Over 17 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of almost $600,000 was seized. Federal agents arrested them Feb. 27 Thursday with assistance from state and local law enforcement. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 2. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 1. 0:04. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. scion capital letters 2020. pros and cons of going commando; how to become a teacher without a degree. The Mexican Navy conducted the first drug bust on August 16 in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is home to the . prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. Everything from shipments of tomatoes, avocados, jalapenos and broccoli, to loads of cobblestones, lighting fixtures and electronic equipment were used in attempted smuggling cases at the border. Santa Fe County District Attorney Angela Spence Pacheco said she appreciated federal authorities taking an interest in the drug problems that have plagued her part of New Mexico.