Mexican traffickers, however, have long recruited Americans for the job. Prosecution of those who manufacture and distribute these illicit and dangerous narcotics is and must remain a top priority for the District of New Mexico., The drug trafficking organizations that produce and distribute these potentially-lethal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl care only about one thing: maximizing profits, said Kyle W. Williamson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations El Paso Division. Crime and Public Safety | On June 9, a federal grand jury indicted Seibel and Pettit on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and four counts of distribution of 40 grams and more of fentanyl. We want to be a part of making the neighborhoods safe again in order to ensure that our community can roam around freely without worrying about crime a foot, said Chief Javier Guerra of the Sunland Park Police Department. DEA-Led Investigation Included Seizures of 30 Kilograms of Heroin, 64 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 17 Kilograms of Cocaine, 20 Kilograms of Marijuana, 24 Firearms, $102,000 in Currency and Three Vehicle. In 2021, the Latin American country produced 972 tons of cocaine that are exported mostly to the United States, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reported last July. The maximum penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than five years or more than 40 years and a $5 million fine. The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorneys Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Major drug bust leads to arrest in Cibola County - KRQE . Daisy Hidalgo, 22, of Anthony, N.M., is charged in Counts 1 and 36-37 of the indictment. Similarly, 23-year-old Mike Mendoza, also of Houston, was arrested in February after border agents stopped him at the JuarezLincoln International Bridge in Laredo while driving a pickup truck with 132 pounds of meth stashed in its tires, according to a criminal complaint. News. Customs and Border Protection says narcotics seizures along the U.S.-Mexico border have increased slightly in the 2021 fiscal year, while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said Mexican traffickers' ability to move drugs into the country had stayed "largely intact.". It noted its increasingly seized drugs trafficked by U.S. citizens and by commercial trucks during the pandemic. "Smuggling drugs is a risk management enterprise. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. They believe those drugs were purchased from a supplier in San Diego. ", Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He told authorities he acted as a middle man and would take the cash from the drug deals in New Mexico back to Arizona, the complaint says. Diego Armando Rivas-Aguilar, 23, a Mexican national, is charged in Counts 1 and 33 of the indictment. Hours of operation and contact information are provided below. And four other individuals, suspected to be connected, are in custody. "But generally speaking people sometimes may find themselves in a bind. The indictment includes 77 overt acts allegedly committed by the defendants in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. HSI is committed to continue working with our law enforcement partners to enhance public safety in our communities.. Reyes and Ornelas were arrested today in Horizon City. An official website of the United States government. Are you having Trouble Finding the Page you are looking for? Drug Bust Nets 34 | News | riograndesun.com Ibarra has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. Illegal fentanyl, a synthetic opioid thats much stronger than morphine, is primarily produced in Mexico, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Tom Homan says number of illegal border crossings is unprecedented', White House insists border is closed despite massive migrant surge. Charged are Raul Jimenez-Verduzco, who authorities claim took over the drug ring after its leader fled to Mexico, Jose Banuelos-Garcia, Manuel Sanchez-Pedraza and Edgar Portillo. Martin J. Contreras, 25, of Rio Rancho, N.M., is charged in Counts 1 and 25-26 of the indictment. WASHINGTON - Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared during his inaugural address last August that the time has come for a new approach in the international war on drugs, which he . The charges are the result of a 16-month DEA-led investigation during which law enforcement authorities seized approximately 30 kilograms of heroin, 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 17 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of marijuana, 24 firearms, $102,000 in currency, and three vehicles. Authorities said Ingram had served time in the Arizona Department of Corrections on prior drug-related charges. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? New Mexicos fentanyl deaths have been on the rise since 2015, data from the states Department of Health shows. Official websites use .gov Further, that Ryan Rodriguez acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor, receiving supplies of cocaine from Jose and Natalie Mendoza, converting it to crack cocaine, and distributing it to customers, including an undercover agent posing as a lower-level drug trafficker. Court records did not show that an attorney had been appointed for him yet. Six Northern New Mexico Residents Arrested In Conspiracy To Distribute Wendy won SPJs Sol Price Award for Responsible Journalism in 2012 for her coverage of corruption at the Sweetwater schools, and she won the Grand Golden Watchdog Award from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association in 2017. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? The indictment also charges certain defendants with engaging in a series of substantive drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, and using communication devices (telephones) to facilitate their criminal activities. Daniel Verduzco is believed to have remained in Mexico since that time, federal prosecutors wrote in the motion. Main Office: 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. Jose Manuel Ortiz-Campos, 28, a legal permanent resident residing in El Paso, Tex., is charged in Counts 1- 2 and 36-40 of the indictment. Bahe was arrested this morning in Las Cruces. Jose Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Alfonso Rios, 36, of Santa Rosa, N.M., is charged in Counts 1 and 11 of the indictment. Friday, May 7, 2021. All rights reserved. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The national director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is calling a recent drug bust in Albuquerque the largest in the Bureaus history. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Contreras was arrested this morning in Rio Rancho. A locked padlock Former acting ICE director Tom Homan on the migrant surge and the number of illegal border crossings is unprecedented.. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Telephone: (505) 346-7274 Last August, authorities observed Jimenez-Verduzco place a duffle bag in Sanchez-Pedrazas car. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ), Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested six defendants Feb. 17, charged with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine. Assistant U.S. In keeping our community safe, I want to enlist their help by asking them to report anything out of the ordinary, suspicious behavior and domestic violence. WASHINGTON Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared during his inaugural address last August that the time has come for a new approach in the international war on drugs, which he argued has failed and failed resoundingly.. Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2022-Q1), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q4), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q3), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q2), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q1), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q4), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q3), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q2). He denied knowing which Mexican criminal organization recruited Mendoza, who had been working in construction. The 2018 investigation was halted after two such tracking devices were discovered, and in November 2020, the drug rings alleged leader, Daniel Noe Verduzco-Ramirez, discovered a device on his car, authorities say. One defendant is charged in a criminal complaint with heroin and cocaine trafficking offenses arising out of the seizure of approximately 24.4 pounds of heroin and 2.45 pounds of cocaine at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 25 north of Las Cruces on March 10, 2017. Counts 14, 25, 35 and 36 charge certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, a Mexican resident, was arrested Thursday after 17,584 pounds of meth and 389 pounds of fentanyl were seized. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? Two other defendants are charged in a criminal complaint with heroin trafficking offenses arising out of the seizure of approximately 17.8 pounds of heroin by the Hatch Police Department during a traffic stop near Hatch, N.M., on April 20, 2017. P.O. Hours of operation and contact information are provided below. UPDATED: Major Drug Bust Targets New Mexico - Albuquerque Journal In addition, the Las Cruces and El Paso offices of Homeland Security Investigations, Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office, Las Cruces Police Department and Sunland Park Police Department participated in todays law enforcement operation. Petro and Biden were to discuss ways to deepen the relationship between their countries and make progress on mutual areas of interest, such as countering narcotics trafficking, promoting economic and security cooperation, combatting climate change and advocating for human and labor rights, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Overdoses from synthetic opioids like fentanyl have soared inthe United States, and fentanyl accountsfor the majority of synthetic opioid deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eloy Romero was convicted on one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. We are honored to work hand in hand with our federal partners, the DEA and the U.S. Attorneys Office in achieving the ultimate goal of keeping our streets safe., Doa Ana County Sheriff Enrique Vigil said, I can say with confidence that our local law-enforcement agencies are committed to doing all that we can to bring fugitives to justice, and will continue working together to make our great state of New Mexico a safe place. Lock In a September 1 search of multiple locations around the city, law enforcement say they recovered more than 1 million fentanyl pills. PUBLISHED: February 12, 2021 at 1:17 p.m. | UPDATED: February 12, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. A state, federal and local investigation has busted a Colorado drug and money laundering ring with ties to . California legislative effort to curtail trafficking fentanyl through social media stalls Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS. After fleeing, Verduzco-Ramirez left his nephew, Jimenez-Verduzco, in charge of the rings day-to-day operations but is still believed to be controlling operations from Mexico, prosecutors wrote in a motion to keep Jimenez-Verduzco in custody. This April 2019 file photo shows the port of entry from Mexicali, Mexico to Calexico, Calif. (AP/West Coast Aerial Photography Inc.), KAMALA HARRIS HAS GONE 69 DAYS WITHOUT A NEWS CONFERENCE SINCE BEING TASKED WITH BORDER CRISIS ROLE. Mexican cartels flexed their power in Tijuana. Now a battle for - NPR In doing that, I will continue to pledge every resource available from the Doa Ana County Sheriffs Department towards that goal., The Las Cruces Police Department is proud of the working relationship we have with other local and federal law enforcement agencies, said Chief Jaime Montoya of the Las Cruces Police Department. Abundio Rene Cantu, a lawyer representing Mendoza, said he believes his client was offered a reward "in the thousands" of dollars. Elizabeth Monroy, 19, of Chaparral, N.M., is charged in Counts 1 and 36-37 of the indictment. Luis Angel Briseo-Lopez, 30, a Mexican national believed to reside in Juarez, Mexico, is charged in Counts 1-4, 6, 13-17, 20-21, 23, 25-26, 29, 31-32 and 34-39 of the indictment. El Chapo sons charged with pushing cheap fentanyl into US Prosecutors also say the group appears to have a knack for discovering tracking devices on their cars, which may have tipped off the groups alleged leader that he was under investigation. Two other defendants, who were not previously charged, were arrested during todays law enforcement operation. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. In the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years, Americans were caught roughly twice as often as Mexicans. Criminal Complaint in United States v. Jose Fernando Lucero, 17-MJ-617-GJF. Carmona was arrested this morning in Arlington, Tex. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Peter Ryan Lynch was charged with receipt or possession of a destructive device. There was at least one arrest for child abuse as well. Photo Courtesy ICE. P.O. The indictment also includes forfeiture allegations, which seek to forfeit to the United States the proceeds of the DTOs drug trafficking and money-laundering activities, including $56,556 seized by the DEA during the investigation. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. Count 42 charges a defendant with managing or controlling a residence for storing controlled substances. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative. Quintana-Arias was arraigned in San Diego federal court on Friday on two counts of importation of a controlled substance. Soto was arrested this morning in Las Cruces. Through the cooperation of numerous law enforcement organizations we have removed criminals from our communities who have been involved in smuggling, transporting, and distributing drugs., The responsibility of protecting our borders and keeping our communities safe is a task to which we are committed. The citizens of New Mexico are safer today because of the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies. "Its just opened up that opportunity to get new recruits," he said.
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