0:51. }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Read More. Stories About Drug Bust - CBS Colorado 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. of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. Ryan Rodriguez is charged in all 12 counts of the indictment. Nova Scotia RCMP has arrested 14 people and seized a 'significant quantity of drugs, firearms and money,' after police say they disrupted a drug trafficking ring as the result of an 11-month . 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. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. 3 Mar. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. DEA announces biggest meth bust in U.S. history - Student News Daily of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal. Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. 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. 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. Police also seized 24 firearms, $102,000 in cash and three vehicles. DRUG CARTELS REUSING MEXICAN TUNNELS ALREADY DISCOVERED BUT LEFT UNFILLED. googletag.enableServices(); Additionally, defendant Edvardo Carlson is alleged to have conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. All rights reserved. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Methamphetamine was found in 6,106 of the packages weighing about 17,584 pounds while the other 160 packages contained fentanyl and weighed about 388 pounds, according to authorities. The defendants allegedly communicated extensively by telephone and text message about their drug trafficking business. While the truckers manifest indicated the trailer held automotive body parts, an X-Ray machine detected anomalies that required further inspection, authorities said. All rights reserved. Nationwide, from April 2020 to April 2021, the CDC reported 100,306 drug-related overdoses nationwide. New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns - some of them stolen - thousands in cash, a. Agents said they were tipped off about Daniels after a seizure of $7 million in Mexico last year. We are a perfect spot since our county borders Mexico, he said. Subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Attorney General James Busts Two Major Drug Trafficking Rings in 49 people connected to a drug ring are now off the streets of Chester County. Both addressed both ends of the drug trafficking scourge in New Mexico: the transporters in the south and the people who sell the drugs at a street level in the north, Gonzales said. Breitbart Texas Robert Arce, a former law enforcement official who specialized in drug crime, reported that the Sinaloa Cartel has stepped up the production of methamphetamine and opioid-based products to offset any cash flow losses attributed to the legalization of marijuana in the United States., The Drug Enforcement Administrations most recent threat assessment ranks the Mexican drug cartels as the greatest criminal drug threat to the United States; no other group is currently positioned to challenge them., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The Devil's Drug: The True Story of Meth in New Mexico - The Daily Beast 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. Ranchos de Taos resident allegedly caught with more than a pound of To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. He said most members were arrested in Chaparral, Carlsbad and Albuquerque, while others were arrested in El Paso, Denver and Atlanta. and receive the latest news each week on business, government, real estate and more! In New Mexico, fentanyl and methamphetamine overtook heroin and prescription opioids as the top cause. Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. googletag.enableServices(); Date: 3/3 8:39 pm. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. Assistant U.S. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Mexican Navy conducted the first drug bust on August 16 in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is home to the . Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that led to the arrest of 100 suspected criminals. 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 . googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Prosecutor charges teen with murder; accused in crash that killed 9 Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta allegedly participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. Guzman once ran a major heroin and methamphetamine operation throughout the southwest. SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Drug Bust in Eastland County - Fentanyl and Meth Confiscated Some of the drugs were headed to the US, Gallo said Sunday. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Chavez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and charged with four counts of drug trafficking and three counts of possession of stolen property. $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . googletag.cmd.push(function() { }); As an anti-prohibition activist, it is interesting that these busts are being made. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. U.S. authorities said Wednesday they completed drug-trafficking busts in Oregon that involved an international network of couriers, dealers and stash-house operators who smuggled. Jose Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Investigators seized 602 pounds of cocaine, 136 pounds of crystal meth, heroin, $3.7 million and 22 firearms as part of the drug bust. 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. of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. 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. In addition, the DEA seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine worth over a million dollars at street value. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants on Feb. 25. AG Sessions vows to eradicate MS-13 gang violence, Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years. 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. WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities in Chester County have announced more than four dozen arrests in a major drug . }); Agents working at the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso, Texas, seized 1,543 pounds of liquid methamphetamine on Feb. 12. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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()); DEA-Led Investigation Leads To Charges In Major New Mexico-Based Drug The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. 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. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office along with the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force executed search and arrest warrants on five homes in Villa Rica,. Drug Bust: Latest News, Photos, Videos on Drug Bust - NDTV.COM Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Main Office: 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. Marshals Office, DEA, and local law enforcement agencies made 100 arrests in a week. Counts 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 charge certain defendants with use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. 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. But, he add, he doesnt see the proposed border wall as a solution. He said the family organization mainly trafficked cocaine, and transported it throughout New Mexico and into places like Denver. 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. Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border. Record-breaking drug bust at California-Mexico border 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. In short, drug prohibition creates drug kingpins. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. April has been a relatively peaceful month so far in Juarez. 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 . Want the news delivered straight to your inbox? 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()); Changes to city of Albuquerque's Sun Van service raise New process allows anybody to self-certify New process allows anybody to self-certify they are disabled. Market data provided by Factset. WATCH: Mexican marines destroyed 50 tons of meth found in a massive underground drug lab pic.twitter.com/CfdBmfk1XG. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. On August 6, U.S.Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Alamogordo immigration checkpoint on U.S. Highway 54, encountered a gray Jeep Patriot approaching the primary inspection area. 18 Biggest Drug Busts In U.S. History - Yahoo Finance Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Theyre asking anyone who knows where he is, to call the police. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. N.S. RCMP arrest 14 people, seize 'significant quantity of drugs A 29-year-old who posed as a food delivery driver and tried to smuggle illegal opioids into an Adelaide medi-hotel has . recent drug bust in new mexico 2020 - Welnx.com The bust has an estimated street value of approximately $800 million. Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. Press Release. February 16, 2023. Dona Ana . As a former U.S. They were charged with offenses such as distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs and heroin. The two largest seizures are believed to have hit the Sinaloa cartel, while the smaller seizure in Baja California happened on turf that is primarily controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Tijuana Cartel. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel. Drug trafficking - AP NEWS Battle rapper Tsu Surf facing federal racketeering charges October 14, 2022 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. Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. Most recent. So, prohibition works to decrease small illegal drug sellers and to keep the biggest cartels on top. Michael Guzman. 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. Weve seen numerous violent crimes such as aggravated batteries, murders, robberies, all associated with the drug problem. Count 1 charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. NEW MEXICO MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY CONCEALING 67 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN A BOX TRUCK. The drug seizure . The 2nd Judicial District Attorney dismissed the case in January 2017, declaring it to be in the interests of justice.. Marshals Office, New Mexico Division. Mace didnt identify the suspect but said the $1 million in marijuana will be destroyed. The bust comes as several states have legalized recreational marijuana; New Mexico is set to decriminalize it in April. Click below to share your thoughts. 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. An official website of the United States government. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); The . Chavez was last arrested in 2016 on several violent felonies, including. Natalie Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12. Traffic stop leads to drug . The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sign up for the New Mexico Sun Newsletter, Juniper Basin Recreation Area will offer 'beautiful landscapes' for future bike park. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020 - Tech-stew.com (Google Maps). Drug Bust - 6abc Philadelphia 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. All rights reserved. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to 20 years in prison. 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Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Florida, Maryland and Texas. The meth was concealed in the roof of a tractor-trailer carrying imported fresh onions from Mexico. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Cannon Air Force Base commander: 'Were excited to open up the base to the public and put a lot of things on display for folks to see', Retail theft bill blocked in New Mexico House: There is tremendous public desire to address the root causes of this crime epidemic, Mayor of Los Ranchos: 'Everybody that is here is really enjoying the matanza, especially the food', Bahadir: 'My parents, my uncle, everybody in my family the city they grew up in is leveled', Edgewood mayor: 'It is not logical to destroy a useful community center for the Edgewood people', Local deputies participate in Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: 'I've never been in any type of physical or mental exhaustion like that'. 1. Ryan Rodriguezs sister, Andrea Rodriguez, allegedly delivered drugs to customers on Ryan Rodriguezs behalf. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Officials believe the drugs were brought into the U.S. from nearby Ciudad Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso. BOSTON - A Weymouth man has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed prodigious amounts of cocaine from Puerto Rico, which he and a co-conspirator obtained via the U.S. mail. "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. For a $50,000 . "We are not talking about people that simply possess. Biden Rips Republican on Drug Deaths: 'That Fentanyl They Took Came 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 crack cocaine (cocaine base) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico from Oct. 2, 2019, to Feb. 25, 2020. 2. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); The maximum penalty on conviction is up to 20 years in prison. 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. According to public court records allegations have been made that, Jose Mendoza, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, were high-level suppliers of cocaine in the Espaola Valley of New Mexico.