It determined members of the "Chinese Drug Trafficking Organization" were supplying marijuana to Asian Pride members. Both Besser and District Attorney John Kellner stressed the fact that fentanyl pills are not only blue in color, but pink and white. If you need help or are having issues with your commenting account, please email us at memberservices@denverpost.com. "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. "We're seeing a lot of organized crime from other countries because it's easy pickings.". Updated August 28, 2017 4:01 pm. Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux); and the CNDSSTF covering Hall, Adams, Merrick and Buffalo counties of Nebraska. 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. Access prisoner details via the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). The availability and accessibility of fake pills (laced with fentanyl) right now is absolutely staggering. The driver was pulled over on June 6. As more people abuse prescription pills, especially opiates, experts say the transition to heroin becomes necessary because it's cheaper and easier to find. The local gangs should be on notice, he said. Ever.. ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The Adams County Sheriff's Office says they were part of a large task force which took down a massive drug bust. PUEBLO, Colo. The FBI on Thursday announced one of the largest drug trafficking takedowns in Colorado history. First published on July 1, 2022 / 2:37 PM. 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. Roger Bujanda, Jesus Mercado Valdez, Gage Rael, Leonard Aragon and Daniel Vasquez were identified as major sources in the supply of heroin and all five were arrested. "And we could kill 25 million people with what was hidden in a car.". 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. If you want to make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand to treat a future breakout, acne patches are the answer. As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. "Its a continued cat and mouse game between law enforcement and cartels. AURORA More than 500 law enforcement agents have arrested 80 people in what prosecutors are calling one of the biggest drug operations in Denver's history. Operation Tranquilandia was led by the DEA in 1984. 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. May 20, 2015 / 11:00 PM 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Look who got busted augusta ga histogram gcse questions eau claire drug bust I got a feeling that he was not as concerned with patient care as he was the outcomes of the child. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The record haul from last month's bust was packed into 48 one-kilo blocks. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Heriberto Aceves-Velazquez a/k/a Erick LNU 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 . More than 900 people died of fentanyl overdoses in Colorado last year, according to the state health department. A lot of the drugs ended up being distributed out of Denver's Civic Center area. Although Tranquilandia is referred to as a drug lab, it's actually much bigger. 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. 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. The FBI called it a massive and historic seizure of heroin, all from within the city of Pueblo. Last month troopers with the Colorado State Patrol made what they believe is the biggest fentanyl bust on a highway in the United States. Last month troopers with the Colorado State Patrol made what they believe is the biggest fentanyl bust on a highway in the United States. Almost 100 people have either been arrested or are on the run in what is being called the largest drug bust in Colorado history. Please enter valid email address to continue. Legal Statement. 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. 114 . Our team of experts has selected the best teeth whitening gel out of hundreds of options. The indictments were returned earlier this year but only unsealed now. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Hell did descend on East Fourth Street in Pueblo, an area hit hard by drug abuse and crime. The case involves a wiretap investigation that began in December and also netted $60,000 in stolen merchandise. But neighbors are certainly caught off guard when the busts happen. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis, Besser said. "Whether or not its on I-70 or on I-25, or its on secondary highways coming into our state, I would bet every hour of every day there is something.". More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. 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. Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a pound of methamphetamine. "They dont care about anything but making money," Barkley said. ", The results of this long investigation are now becoming clearer. Largest Database of Etowah County Mugshots. That's compared to 150 pounds all of last year. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Youth are especially vulnerable, Besser said, as they are targeted on social media to purchase these drugs creating an unparalleled accessibility.. If youre here to bring poison and violence into the community, hell is coming to breakfast, acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer said. 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 . Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Jeff Graham Even before this bust . December 1, 2021, 1:51 PM. 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.". Brown heroin can be smoked which makes it easier for a user to hide. This is poison. All rights reserved. 9. John Graham Here are some of Canada's largest drug busts over the last 25 years. 0:39 . We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. 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. In all Authorities seized 273 pounds of brown heroin, 31 pounds of methamphetamine, 25 pounds of cocaine and 25 vehicles. Authorities said the penalties for a majority of the crimes charged range from 10 years to life in prison. 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. The four weapons seized included an AR-15-style rifle and a 9 mm handgun, authorities said. "We aim to strangle this drug trafficking organization to deprive it from the oxygen it needs to survive -- money," US Attorney John Walsh said. The arrests were made by over 500 law enforcement officers, making this the largest drug bust in Denver history. LOS ANGELES SCHOOL STUDENTS INGEST ECSTASY PILLS LACED WITH FENTANYL, SUPERINTENDENT SAYS. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A year-long investigation disrupted a . Addiction experts say the explosion of heroin use began a few years ago when the drug maker of OxyContin reformulated their pills making it more difficult for people to crush them. This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . The court document says the investigation began in the summer of 2016 looking into what was called the "Asian Pride Drug Trafficking Organization." Officers found 26,129 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of crack and a pound of methamphetamine. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. Fentanyl in Colorado has been an increasingly troubling issue. Officers with the Colorado State Patrol seized 114 pounds of pure fentanyl on a highway on June 20. ", The operations spanned the Front Range including Arapahoe County where the District Attorney George Brauchler told reporters, "If you legalize marijuana and allow it to be grown in homes this is what you can expect to happen. 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 . We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. When will Buffs fans see Coach Prime in action? This amounts to approximately 40,000 user doses of heroin in the streets of Pueblo, McCulloch said. This big drug bust is similar to the others because it's linked to -- you guessed it -- cocaine. 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. So numerous are the illegal pot grow operations that they have become almost commonplace. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. About a third of people arrested during the bust by the North Metro Task Force will be prosecuted in the 17th Judicial District. By the end of the day Thursday, 80 defendants were in handcuffs and 17 people were still on the loose. Authorities say federal, st The DEA says fentanyl-related deaths shot up more than 210% between 2018 and 2021 in Colorado. 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