Official websites use .gov 4. 2. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Matthew Reisen / Journal Staff Writer The maximum penalty on conviction is up to four years in prison. Dona Ana. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By ABQJournal News Staff Manuel Varela. 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. 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,. Count 3 charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. Attorneys Peter Eicker and Matthew Nelson are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force 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. The drugs found included 8,810 pounds of fentanyl and 13,216 pounds of heroin. Market data provided by Factset. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; Dona Ana . Despite the deputy seizing that much marijuana, its unlikely that the suspect will face charges, due to a technicality. Anytime we get a bust like that, were ecstatic were able to keep those narcotics from getting into other communities, Mace said. Gonzales said the dealers arrested were mostly longtime Espaola Valley residents. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to 20 years in prison. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Florida, Maryland and Texas. (Google Maps). googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); More than 300,000 fentanyl pills seized in federal bust connected to 3 major drug trafficking groups . Contact, Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved, FreightWaves, Inc, Five biggest Mexico border drug busts of 2020, Loaded & Rolling (Enterprise Fleet News/Analysis), Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border, CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes, $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment, $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof, Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. DRUG CARTELS REUSING MEXICAN TUNNELS ALREADY DISCOVERED BUT LEFT UNFILLED. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. (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. Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Nationwide, from April 2020 to April 2021, the CDC reported 100,306 drug-related overdoses nationwide. 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. 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. The arrests this week was the culmination of a year-long investigation. googletag.cmd.push(function() { The U.S. 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. We come across skeletons and groups in the desert often.. Ryan Rodriguez is charged in all 12 counts of the indictment. Nineteen suspected members of the ring were arrested. If Joe can't repay that $50,000, he gets beat up and never sold to again. SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2, 2020. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); 2. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. "And the main driving force behind this overdose epidemic is the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl." Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. An official website of the United States government. 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. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing later today. In New Mexico, fentanyl and methamphetamine overtook heroin and prescription opioids as the top cause. . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Weve seen numerous violent crimes such as aggravated batteries, murders, robberies, all associated with the drug problem. Operation Washout Roswell ran from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. Counts 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 charge certain defendants with use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Agents at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge seized 1,527 pounds of methamphetamine on July 9. 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.. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. He said the family organization mainly trafficked cocaine, and transported it throughout New Mexico and into places like Denver. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. El Diario de Juarez reports that there have been 25 murders, including three people killed this past Wednesday and Thursday. 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. All rights reserved. In total, authorities say they seized 10.5 kilograms of cocaine, 650 grams of suspected fentanyl and more than $200,000 in drug proceeds. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Gonzales said the Espaola Valley has a very serious heroin problem and has grappled with it for many years. 40,000 Fentanyl Pills, 20 Lbs. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. Know of a story that needs to be covered? Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale . The raids, which also targeted properties in Mexico City and the northern state of Durango, marked the latest large-scale fentanyl bust . 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. ROSWELL, N.M.(KRQE) Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. It is random, if a shipment is caught. Lock 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. 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. . 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'. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); 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. 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. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. AG Sessions vows to eradicate MS-13 gang violence, Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); The situation there is simply not acceptable, he said at a news conference in Albuquerque. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. And as a result of this operation several individuals who have been involved in contributing to that problem have been arrested, she said. 2023 New Mexico Sun. "We are not talking about people that simply possess. 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. }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { (Photos: Hall County Sheriff's Office) (Photos: Hall County Sheriff's Office) Arresting these criminals assists in keep the citizens in our local communities and society safe. 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. 3 Mar. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . 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. To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. Our region is a rich environment that can be exploited by criminals, said Chief Gloria Chavez of the El Paso Sector. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta, is alleged to have participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. 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. or redistributed. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges. The Mexican Army conducted the second and third drug busts on August 17 and 18 in Baja California, seizing approximately 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in a remote area known as the San Fernando Canyon, according to a report from Breitbart Texas. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. In an unrelated bust, 39 people were charged as being part of a distribution ring based out of El Paso, Texas and Chaparral, N.M., Gonzales said. In addition, the DEA seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine worth over a million dollars at street value. A drug bust in the International District last week turned up much more than dope. This operation is a first step toward bringing positive changes to the Espaola Valley. Legal Statement. Man who tried to smuggle drugs into medi-hotel asks to be spared prison. WATCH: Mexican marines destroyed 50 tons of meth found in a massive underground drug lab pic.twitter.com/CfdBmfk1XG. Among the individuals apprehended at the border some have prior criminal offenses or active warrants for aggravated assault offenses. There were 438 killings in 2014 and 312 in 2015. 5. Want the news delivered straight to your inbox? 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 . And having a restricted supply increases the money that sellers can demand in exchange for the goods. P.O. February 21, 2023. So far this year, there have been about 250 people murdered in the city. 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. Police seized fentanyl, meth, firearms, and more than $5,000. Ryan Rodriguezs sister, Andrea Rodriguez, allegedly delivered drugs to customers on Ryan Rodriguezs behalf. . 0:51. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; 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. The DAs office, Chaves County, Lea County, and the Roswell Police Chief expressed the importance of having federal agencies involved. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; 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. Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Mace said that while the driver wasnt connected to the robberies, it was obvious that something was amiss. Date: 3/3 8:39 pm. 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. Of Cocaine Seized In Adams County Drug Bust . Federal agents arrested them Feb. 27 Thursday with assistance from state and local law enforcement. 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. 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. 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. Investigators also recovered more than 30 firearms and seized approximately $14,000 in cash. His detention hearing is set for Friday. Per page 1; 2; 3 > Michael Guzman. In short, drug prohibition creates drug kingpins. They targeted violent criminals and drug organizations in Roswell. Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Telephone: (505) 346-7274 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. For now, I can tell you that the goal with this operation is to reduce the availability of heroin and other drugs in the Valley before they and the people who dispense them wreak havoc in the lives of the families who call Espaola and Rio Arriba County home., The operation in the southern part of the state was focused on a family-run drug transporting ring and was part of a larger, national effort called Project Deliverance., Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities in Chester County have announced more than four dozen arrests in a major drug . Despite more than a decade working in dentistry, Albuquerque dentist Casey Allman is inviting anyone with a sweet tooth to his new soda shop. DRUG CARTELS IN MEXICO BEING TAKEN OVER BY RUTHLESS, BUT CHARMING, WOMEN. A massive drug bust involved over 25 people being indicted by a federal grand jury April 8 where they were allegedly involved in international money laundering and a meth trafficking scheme. 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. Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested.. The federal threshold for prosecuting marijuana crimes goes by weight, and there must be 1,000 lbs or more of the drug, Mace said. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta allegedly participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California. Assistant U.S. Tijuana-San Diego. U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. googletag.enableServices(); 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. 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. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Main Office: During that bust, they located financial ledgers that allege the Atlanta man received over. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Count 3 of the indictment charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020. 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 . Count 12 charges certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base. Market data provided by Factset. Some of the drugs were headed to the US, Gallo said Sunday. 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. 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. 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. Will there be a brighter ending to this legislative session? Sign up for the New Mexico Sun Newsletter, Juniper Basin Recreation Area will offer 'beautiful landscapes' for future bike park. Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. Counts 2, 5, 7, 9, and 11 charge certain defendants with use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.