Mexican Authorities Make Massive Drug Busts Worth Billions. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico, Federal Domestic Violence Statutes and Elements for Prosecution, Six defendants charged in conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Northern New Mexico, Mexican drug trafficker sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, Columbus man sentenced for drug trafficking, Albuquerque man charged in drug, firearms investigation, Six Defendants Charged In Conspiracy To Distribute Crack Cocaine In Northern New Mexico. Michael Guzman. 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. He said most members were arrested in Chaparral, Carlsbad and Albuquerque, while others were arrested in El Paso, Denver and Atlanta. Ryan Rodriguez allegedly acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's San Diego field office announced this week that the total amount of narcotics seized at Southern . Still, Mace said, anything over two ounces will be a misdemeanor and possessing over eight ounces is considered a felony. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges. Gonzales said 39 members of the group were charged in a federal indictment, and 26 have been arrested, so far. The woman told police Chavez bound her inside his van and told her to write a suicide note which she refused to do before choking her to unconsciousness repeatedly and bashing her head against the concrete. Jose Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. Submit Your Story By Sam Jackson Feb 19, 2022 An arrest and seizure of more than $1 million in street drugs in New Mexico resulted in no charges and the suspect being released, authorities said. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . Fentanyl found stuffed in coconuts in Mexican truck December 3, 2022 | 12:56pm Police in Mexico found 660 pounds of fentanyl stuffed into coconuts and presumably headed to the US, authorities. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal. Constantly updated. Federal agents arrested them on Feb. 27 with assistance from state and local law enforcement. 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. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); Market data provided by Factset. WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities in Chester County have announced more than four dozen arrests in a major drug . "We are not talking about people that simply possess. 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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. kidnapping, false imprisonment and six counts of aggravated battery against a household member in the brutal beating of his wife. 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.) Were going to clean up our communities.. Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. We need more boots on the ground because a wall will not solve illegal immigration or drug trafficking, Vigil said. Authorities confiscated weapons, drugs, and money in the raids. Showing 1 - 10 of 10919 results. The arrests this week was the culmination of a year-long investigation. Baby wipes seized at Mexico border turns out to be $11.8M in cocaine. More than 17,500 pounds (7,930 kilograms) of meth and 389 pounds (176 kilograms) of fentanyl were discovered last Thursday hidden inside a tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in [] Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California. 2. CBP: Drug Seizures Dropped at Border Ports in SoCal in 2022. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized or documented approximately 1.39 kilograms of cocaine, 567 grams of cocaine base, 160 grams of heroin, 2.68 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 2,000 fentanyl pills. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Matthew Reisen / Journal Staff Writer 2. And as a result of this operation several individuals who have been involved in contributing to that problem have been arrested, she said. Five additional suspects were also charged and remain at large. Between August 2020 and May 2021, agents and officers recovered over 120 pounds of narcotics, over $335,000 in cash, and two guns, as well as drug paraphernalia. His lieutenant gets pulled over and loses the meth. Chavezs father, Dennis Chavez, declined to comment on the charges against his son. Market data provided by Factset. Marshal Service, Operation Washout is a national initiative focused on the investigation and arrest of violent fugitives with active arrest warrants, by providing an immediate-impact operational model meant to support partner agencies and provide communities with relief from violent crime. New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns - some of them stolen - thousands in cash, a. googletag.cmd.push(function() { The following agencies assisted with the investigation: Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force, which includes members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Taos Police Department. The Christian County prosecutor charged . He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. 7:19 AM EST March 7, 2020 35 people were arrested earlier this week after a drug distribution investigation between police departments and officials in New Hampshire and Maine. Police also seized 24 firearms, $102,000 in cash and three vehicles. Operation Washout Roswell ran from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19. During record checks at the station, agents determined that the man had an active warrant for his arrest in relation to a 2002 probation violation for Aggravated Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon by the Dallas Sheriffs Office. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Have a concern or an opinion about this story? This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . "That's a record number of drug overdoses in the history of tracking these types of statistics," Olesky said. Authorities discovered the underground drug lab in a mountainous area where they seized a staggering 50 tons of methamphetamine, which has an estimated street value of approximately $4 billion. Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. A drug-sniffing dog then alerted CBP officers to the rear door of the trailer. 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. . Attorney General James Busts Two Major Drug Trafficking Rings in Central New York 78 Individuals Indicted for Trafficking Cocaine, Heroin, and Fentanyl Throughout NYS; Illegal Possession of Firearms, Including Untraceable Ghost Guns AG James Has Taken More Than 1,400 Guns Off NYS's Streets Since 2019 googletag.cmd.push(function() { There were nearly 94,000 US drug overdose deaths in 2020, during Trump's final full year in office, of which nearly 58,000 were linked to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl up from nearly . Legal Statement. To tell you the truth, I havent seen that guy in over a year, so I dont really know what hes up to, he said. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. The special agent in charge of the DEA El Paso Division said operations like this will happen more frequently. Mexican law enforcement officials made four major drug busts in recent days which yielded over 120,000 lbs. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Assistant U.S. "This is a staggering seizure that demonstrates the extent of our current fight against mass production of methamphetamine and fentanyl," acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said, thanking all the agencies involved in the bust. New Mexico Bookings. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. Traffic stop leads to drug . Border Patrol Agents In New Mexico Make Drug Bust and Arrest Aggravated Felon. Aug 4, 2021. Nationwide, from April 2020 to April 2021, the CDC reported 100,306 drug-related overdoses nationwide. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. He allegedly received supplies of cocaine from Jose and Natalie Mendoza, converted it to crack cocaine, and distributed it by the ounce to customers, including an undercover agent posing as a lower level drug trafficker. His detention hearing is set for Friday. He is looking forward to the 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents pledged by President Trump in one of his first executive orders. So far this year, there have been about 250 people murdered in the city. Nineteen suspected members of the ring were arrested. 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. According to court records, Jose Mendoza and Natalie Mendoza also laundered proceeds from their drug trafficking by making large cash payments on auto loans and large cash deposits into accounts at credit unions. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot2', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767737710-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); Mace said that while the driver wasnt connected to the robberies, it was obvious that something was amiss. And the worst thing about prohibition is that USA tax payers pays to kill its own citizens and to create crime while they make drug lords extraordinarily wealthy and increases the corruption of politicians and law enforcement in Mexico and the USA. Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered to help unload and deliver the furnishings. The Mexican Navy conducted the first drug bust on August 16 in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is home to the Sinaloa drug cartel the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world. 3 Mar. 4. Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Friday night on, Senate Bill 2 would bring the pay of state Supreme Court justices in line with. $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment. Additionally, defendant Edvardo Carlson is alleged to have conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. 5. The arrests underscore the tough stance law enforcement officials are now taking when dealing with Mexican drug cartels and street gangs. An officer who works on a federal drug task force made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Feb. 10. Overwhelming most illegal drugs get through. U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. 3. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); February 21, 2023. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In addition, the DEA seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine worth over a million dollars at street value. Toronto police announce 'staggering' $61 million cross-Canada drug bust Police on Tuesday announced the seizure of 444 kg of cocaine, 182 kg of crystal meth, 427 kg of marijuana, 300 oxycodone . Edvardo Carlson allegedly conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. Battle rapper Tsu Surf facing federal racketeering charges October 14, 2022 The maximum penalty on conviction is up to four years in prison. A lock ( She said the drug problem contributes to other crime in the area. 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. Arresting these criminals assists in keep the citizens in our local communities and society safe. The U.S. Agents at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge seized 1,527 pounds of methamphetamine on July 9. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing later today. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes. Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale . Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. According to a news release from the U.S. Main Office: While the truckers manifest indicated the trailer held automotive body parts, an X-Ray machine detected anomalies that required further inspection, authorities said. Pitch your story to The New Mexico Sun. An official website of the United States government. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 'EL CHAPO' GUZMAN'S FEARED SUCCESSOR CAPTURED OUTSIDE MEXICO CITY. Sergio Ruiz was sentenced to 240 months in prison. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 24. The recent arrest of 23 Mexican cartel operatives in New Mexico and West Texas is prime example of newly empowered local and federal law enforcement officials whose attitude reflects that of the Trump administration, some lawmen say. Per page 1; 2; 3 > Michael Guzman. (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. or redistributed. Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people Nearly 30 charged in drug trafficking ring operating in Pa. counties 28 lbs. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta allegedly participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. 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. 40,000 Fentanyl Pills, 20 Lbs. Market data provided by Factset. }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { U.S. Customs and Border Protection made a record-breaking seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine on Thursday, busting a Mexican citizen who was trying to haul the drugs into to the U.S. inside a. Guzman once ran a major heroin and methamphetamine operation throughout the southwest. We were actually looking for the individuals that were involved in the armed robberies, Mace said. As a former U.S. Pitch your story to The New Mexico Sun. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. And having a restricted supply increases the money that sellers can demand in exchange for the goods. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020. 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 J. Gonzales said Thursday. (Google Maps). 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. Weve seen numerous violent crimes such as aggravated batteries, murders, robberies, all associated with the drug problem. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. February 16, 2023. The Mexican Navy conducted the first drug bust on August 16 in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is home to the . Investigators also recovered more than 30 firearms and seized approximately $14,000 in cash. The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol are vigilant to safeguard our nations borders from individuals attempting to illegally cross into the United States. 2. The raids, which also targeted properties in Mexico City and the northern state of Durango, marked the latest large-scale fentanyl bust . The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. Jose Mendoza, 32, and Natalie Mendoza, 35, of Medanales; Ryan Rodriguez, 27, of Chamita; Andrea Rodriguez, 28, and Edvardo Carlson, 39, of Espaola, and Bridget Archuleta, 31, of San Juan Pueblo, appeared in federal court Friday for arraignment on an indictment charging them with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine (cocaine base) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, from Oct. 2, 2019, to Feb. 25, 2020. Two people got caught with an illegal psilocybin mushroom grow and other drugs in a Lyons home. Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered to help unload and deliver the furnishings, Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 seed in league tourney, If it MUST be the NIT, UNM basketball has a plan, After bill was vetoed last year, lawmakers try again to boost pay of NM judges, Gun safe storage bill inches closer to governor's desk after winning Senate approval. But as we all know, we have a very long way to go. Seventeen people were arrested apart of the same drug ring on a 66-count indictment. The CBP confirmed that the drug seizures were the largest busts in the U.S. for both meth and fentanyl for this year and last year, prosecutors said. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to 20 years in prison. Agents said they were tipped off about Daniels after a seizure of $7 million in Mexico last year. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. charlotte jones anderson family best airbnb near london miss scarlet and the duke based on book recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. by . ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Jose Mendoza, 32, and Natalie Mendoza, 35, of Medanales, New Mexico, Ryan Rodriguez, 27, of Chamita, New Mexico, Andrea Rodriguez, 28, and Edvardo Carlson, 39, of Espanola, New Mexico, and Bridget Archuleta, 31, of San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico appeared in federal court today for arraignment on an indictment charging them with various drug trafficking offenses involving . The main target of this operation was the transportation infrastructure of the Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, Gonzales said. 49 people connected to a drug ring are now off the streets of Chester County. The situation there is simply not acceptable, he said at a news conference in Albuquerque. ROSWELL, N.M.(KRQE) Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney. It sounds like a lot but thats just a drop in the bucket, as far as the amount of narcotics that are moving across our state, Mace said in the KRQE article. 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 San Juan sheriff shoots dog during off-duty traffic stop, Sheriff Shane Ferrari said the dog came out of the vehicle and charged at him. Jose Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. LockA locked padlock According to a story by news station KRQE, Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace said authorities were investigating a string of armed robberies in the area; the traffic stop and resulting seizure resulted because deputies were on high alert.. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Jurez police and the Mexican military seized a huge drug load of fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine and marijuana estimated to be worth more than $60 million. 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. 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 . Marshals Office, DEA, and local law enforcement agencies made 100 arrests in a week. The fourth drug bust, announced on Wednesday, happened in the Sinaloa city of Culiacan where the Mexican Navy seized 10 tons of synthetic drugs, which a source told The Daily Wire was methamphetamine. Through Operation Highspeed, which started in November 2022, the RCMP Federal Intelligence Unit in Nova Scotia seized 1.3 kg of cocaine, 2 kg of MDMA, approximately 4,000 psilocybin capsules,. Despite the deputy seizing that much marijuana, its unlikely that the suspect will face charges, due to a technicality. The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509. In addition, decreasing the supply of illegal drugs functions primarily to increase the cost that consumers pay which with illegal drugs means that one of the prices they pay is in increased health risk by having a heavily diluted and unsafe drug supply. 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()); Sessions visited border towns and Long Island, New York, the past two weeks to announce that the administration will clamp down on MS-13, a violent street gang with Central American roots that is terrorizing many parts of the country. The company flew its test plane for 15 minutes at low elevation above the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, where it Amid debate over transgender rights, New Mexico House OKs New Mexico legislation would prohibit discrimination New Mexico legislation would prohibit discrimination in provision of public services on basis of gender, gender identity. Federal officials said Ramon Reyes-Mesa may have already fled to Mexico.