A diplomatic row has frozen U.S.-Mexican efforts to target drug cartels. Will there be a brighter ending to this legislative session? Count 12 charges certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base. 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. But, he add, he doesnt see the proposed border wall as a solution. Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. In a major crackdown on the drug trafficking cartels, Tripura Police in a joint operation with Assam Rifles busted a syndicate wherein 186 kg of drugs were seized and one person was arrested. Gonzales said 39 members of the group were charged in a federal indictment, and 26 have been arrested, so far. The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. ALAMOGORDO, N.M. In separate incidents over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested a wanted aggravated felon and a narcotics smuggler. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Quintana-Arias faces federal drug charges and was arraigned Friday. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. In total, authorities say they seized 10.5 kilograms of cocaine, 650 grams of suspected fentanyl and more than $200,000 in drug proceeds. 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 . 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. All rights reserved. Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered to help unload and deliver the furnishings. All rights reserved. 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. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the possible presence of narcotics during an immigration inspection. and cocaine from Mexico across the border and up I-5 to the . So, one of the costs of prohibition is death of the consumer. The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. A detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. Michael Guzman. ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. Gun safe storage bill inches closer to governor's desk Republicans express concern over high-profile measure Republicans express concern over high-profile measure during Fridays two-hour debate. Photo Courtesy ICE. The arrests underscore the tough stance law enforcement officials are now taking when dealing with Mexican drug cartels and street gangs. 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. 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. 2. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. Count 3 charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. The special agent in charge of the DEA El Paso Division said operations like this will happen more frequently. googletag.enableServices(); Mexican law enforcement officials made four major drug busts in recent days which yielded over 120,000 lbs. 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()); "Since the seizure didnt meet that weight requirement, the federal government declined to prosecute, simply interviewing the suspect and releasing him.. Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . 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. Chavez was last arrested in 2016 on several violent felonies, including. of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns some of them stolen thousands in cash, a fair amount of fentanyl and a Los Lunas Police badge when they raided the home of 35-year-old Army veteran Claudio Chavez on Jan. 30. Click below to share your thoughts. While the truckers manifest indicated the trailer held automotive body parts, an X-Ray machine detected anomalies that required further inspection, authorities said. Police seized fentanyl, meth, firearms, and more than $5,000. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. Chavez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and charged with four counts of drug trafficking and three counts of possession of stolen property. If Joe can't repay that $50,000, he gets beat up and never sold to again. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, And having a restricted supply increases the money that sellers can demand in exchange for the goods. drug bust news stories - get the latest updates from ABC13. 2. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Theyre asking anyone who knows where he is, to call the police. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, of Mexico, was driving a 2009 Kenworth Tractor pulling a 1996 Stoug trailer when he applied for entry into the U.S. at the Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry at around 8:20 p.m., the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of California said in a news release. Manuel Varela. Since 2016, fentanyl abuse has been a primary driver of overdose deaths across the nation. In a separate incident August 5, Santa Teresa Border Patrol agents arrested a 42-year-old Mexican man who was illegally crossing into 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 . She said the drug problem contributes to other crime in the area. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Andrea Rodriguez is charged in Counts 1 and 3. This indictment is the product of a joint federal investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force which includes members of the BIA, New Mexico State Police, the Santa Fe Police Department, the Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Taos Police Department. Ryan Rodriguez is charged in all 12 counts of the indictment. But as we all know, we have a very long way to go. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. The drug seizure . The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. 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. Overwhelming most illegal drugs get through. The situation there is simply not acceptable, he said at a news conference in Albuquerque. DEA has seized enough fentanyl this year to kill every American Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people 28 lbs. Nov 18, 2022 Over half a million dollars in fentanyl, cocaine, meth seized at Texas-Mexico border U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted $578,456 worth of fentanyl, cocaine, and. Bryan Llenas reports on the attorney general's efforts on 'Special Reports'. Border Patrol Agents In New Mexico Make Drug Bust and Arrest Aggravated Felon Release Date Tue, 08/11/2020 - 12:00 ALAMOGORDO, N.M. - In separate incidents over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested a wanted aggravated felon and a narcotics smuggler. 0:04. Click Share This Page button to display social media links. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, of Mexico, was driving a 2009 Kenworth Tractor pulling a 1996 Stoug trailer when he applied for entry into the U.S. at the Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry on Thursday night, authorities said. (Google Maps). He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Agents at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility in South Texas discovered 1,853 pounds of crystal meth on Dec. 19, in a shipment of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants on Feb. 25. Jose Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12. All six defendants were arrested and remain in custody pending detention hearings. Natalie Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12. Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people Nearly 30 charged in drug trafficking ring operating in Pa. counties 28 lbs. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. Initiative, a law enforcement effort that brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York's growing and often violent heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Were going to be knocking on your doors soon its just a matter of time. Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. For a $50,000 . If it's more money, maybe he gets killed.". Market data provided by Factset. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW_Super_Leaderboard', [[300, 50], [970, 90], [300, 100], [728, 90]], 'div-gpt-ad-1668097889433-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner2).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.cmd.push(function() { Investigators also recovered more than 30 firearms and seized approximately $14,000 in cash. However, I think what they show is what a huge failure the entire effort of attempting to prohibit illegal drugs from Mexico from entering the USA is. We are a perfect spot since our county borders Mexico, he said. 2023 New Mexico Sun. It is random, if a shipment is caught. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 24. Counts 4, 6, 8, and 10 charge certain defendants with distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. 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 . New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns - some of them stolen - thousands in cash, a. New Mexico Bookings. 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. Gonzales said the dealers arrested were mostly longtime Espaola Valley residents. Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella, State Police Colonel Nathan Noyes and United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") Special Agent-in-Charge Brian D. Boyle announce that ten individuals were arrested as the result of a months-long, multi-agency drug trafficking investigation conducted by DEA, the State Police, and the Attorney General's Drug Task Force. According to the U.S. State Department in Ciudad Juarez, there were 545 murders in 2016, an increase from the two previous years. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Have a concern or an opinion about this story? A drug bust in the International District last week turned up much more than dope. 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. This figure is less than half of the 71 homicides for all of the month of March. 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. An official website of the United States government. Police responded to the Mountain Run Shopping Center after Chavezs battered wife ran inside the Smiths grocery to hide from him. Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that. A lot of that is drug smuggling, a lot of those drugs end up here and end up on the streets in these communities, we have an obligation to help, said Eric, the Special Agent in charge of the Homeland Security New Mexico and West Texas Division.