The defendants communicated extensively by telephone and text message about their drug trafficking business. "Since the seizure didnt meet that weight requirement, the federal government declined to prosecute, simply interviewing the suspect and releasing him.. "And the main driving force behind this overdose epidemic is the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl." Manuel Varela. Counts 4, 6, 8, and 10 charge certain defendants with distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. A diplomatic row has frozen U.S.-Mexican efforts to target drug cartels. A traffic stop for a minor violation led deputies to nearly 400 pounds of meth worth $1.5 million. Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. They were allegedly distributing drugs throught New Mexico and Texas and into Colorado and other states. googletag.enableServices(); Chavezs father, Dennis Chavez, declined to comment on the charges against his son. New Mexico Bookings. googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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 maximum penalty on conviction is up to four years in prison. It really gives off a strong odor.. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. 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. Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested.. The U.S. 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. 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. An indictment is only an accusation. The Christian County prosecutor charged . Legal Statement. 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. Among the individuals apprehended at the border some have prior criminal offenses or active warrants for aggravated assault offenses. 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. Battle rapper Tsu Surf facing federal racketeering charges October 14, 2022 Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . The methamphetamine was hidden in a shipment of cleaning supplies being imported from Mexico. , 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. Showing 1 - 10 of 10919 results. 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, 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. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. Market data provided by Factset. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); LockA locked padlock googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. 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. P.O. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's San Diego field office announced this week that the total amount of narcotics seized at Southern . Federal agents arrested them Feb. 27 Thursday with assistance from state and local law enforcement. Official websites use .gov Marshals Office, DEA, and local law enforcement agencies made 100 arrests in a week. Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested. An officer who works on a federal drug task force made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Feb. 10. 2. The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. At a press conference in Las Cruces, N.M. on Friday announcing the bust, Doa Ana County Sheriff Enrique Kiki Vigil essentially echoed Attorney General Jeff Sessions mantra on how to deal with criminal enterprises involving illegal immigrants. All rights reserved. . 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. October 2019, along with our law enforcement partners we initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating here in Roswell; They were trafficking very large amounts of methamphetamine, said Kyle Williamson, Special Agent in charge of the DEA, El Paso Division. Attorneys Peter Eicker and Matthew Nelson are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. 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. Largest Database of New Mexico Mugshots. According to public court records, Jose Mendoza, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, allegedly were high-level suppliers of cocaine in the Espanola Valley of New Mexico. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. (CNSNews.com) - President Biden on Wednesday evening hit back at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for blaming his administration for two fentanyl deaths that occurred before he took office. This was not the only huge meth seizure in the region. The DAs office, Chaves County, Lea County, and the Roswell Police Chief expressed the importance of having federal agencies involved. "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 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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 . Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border 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. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020. 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 truck, authorities said. Jose Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Quintana-Arias faces federal drug charges and was arraigned Friday. Some of the drugs were headed to the US, Gallo said Sunday. 3 Mar. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel. Read More. The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. 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. Natalie Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12. His detention hearing is set for Friday. Dona Ana. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said investigators uncovered 75 firearms, 9 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of fentanyl and an undisclosed amount of heroin. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges. Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. For a $50,000 . 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. U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; 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. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. The raids, which also targeted properties in Mexico City and the northern state of Durango, marked the latest large-scale fentanyl bust . 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. 0:51. 3. Members of Albuquerque drug trafficking organization charged with possessing, trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - John Seibel, 25, Robert Pettit, 51, and Barbara Dockery, 64, all of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court today for their parts in a drug trafficking organization run by Seibel (the Seibel DTO). Arresting these criminals assists in keep the citizens in our local communities and society safe. 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 . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Gerardo Rafael Lara-Yanez, 24, of Albuquerque, was charged in federal court with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more District of New Mexico Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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,. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. 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. Charges unknown. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the 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. Were going to clean up our communities.. DEA has seized enough fentanyl this year to kill every American Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people 28 lbs. He described one recent incident where deputies came across a group of 22 people in the desert, one of whom escaped from a prison in Ciudad Juarez and was wanted for a crime in the U.S. Five suspects also listed in the indictment, including the suspected leader of the organization, Luis Angel Briseo-Lopez, a Mexican national who may be living in Cuidad Jurez, remain at large. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing later today. Andrea Rodriguez is charged in Counts 1 and 3. Press Release. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. 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. Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that. 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. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California. He said the family organization mainly trafficked cocaine, and transported it throughout New Mexico and into places like Denver. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the possible presence of narcotics during an immigration inspection. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Upon examination, the deputy discovered seven duffle bags filled with marijuana, registering a street value of more than $1 million. A lock ( The cartels are very ingrained in New Mexico communities with cells and stash houses. The main target of this operation was the transportation infrastructure of the Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, Gonzales said. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Lock The amount of fentanyl seized by U.S. border agents at the southern border has skyrocketed in recent years, from 70 pounds in the fiscal year 2015 to nearly 4,000 pounds from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept . Legal Statement. Assistant U.S. Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people Nearly 30 charged in drug trafficking ring operating in Pa. counties 28 lbs. TEMPE, Ariz. ( 3TV/CBS 5 /Gray News) - The Tempe Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Arizona Attorney General's Office shared details on Thursday about a major bust that took . googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020. April has been a relatively peaceful month so far in Juarez. Weve seen numerous violent crimes such as aggravated batteries, murders, robberies, all associated with the drug problem. This may be the biggest meth bust in American history .