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. 2. The Dallas Sheriffs Department was contacted and confirmed extradition of the male subject. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Photo Courtesy ICE. This figure is less than half of the 71 homicides for all of the month of March. They targeted violent criminals and drug organizations in Roswell. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta allegedly participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. The main target of this operation was the transportation infrastructure of the Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, Gonzales said. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to 20 years in prison. Between August 2020 and May 2021, agents and officers recovered over 120 pounds of narcotics, over $335,000 in cash, and two guns, as well as drug paraphernalia. Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. An indictment is only an accusation. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Nineteen suspected members of the ring were arrested. 40,000 Fentanyl Pills, 20 Lbs. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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 . During that bust, they located financial ledgers that allege the Atlanta man received over. The Fifth Judicial District Attorney said Roman Reyes-Mesa, who is still on the loose and wanted for conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, is why the operation happened. The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2, 2020. U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. "That's a record number of drug overdoses in the history of tracking these types of statistics," Olesky said. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. In the past 20 years in. A locked padlock 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. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. 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. The defendants allegedly communicated extensively by telephone and text message about their drug trafficking business. According to the U.S. State Department in Ciudad Juarez, there were 545 murders in 2016, an increase from the two previous years. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 3. More Info. googletag.cmd.push(function() { This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. The raids, which also targeted properties in Mexico City and the northern state of Durango, marked the latest large-scale fentanyl bust . 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. 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. 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'. $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof. 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. The federal threshold for prosecuting marijuana crimes goes by weight, and there must be 1,000 lbs or more of the drug, Mace said. Mexican Authorities Make Massive Drug Busts Worth Billions. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Traffic stop leads to drug . Weve seen numerous violent crimes such as aggravated batteries, murders, robberies, all associated with the drug problem. 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.. Chavezs father, Dennis Chavez, declined to comment on the charges against his son. or redistributed. Count 12 of the indictment charges certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base. Legal Statement. Is it always financially worthwhile to attend one of New Mexicos four-year public universities? Market data provided by Factset. Police seized fentanyl, meth, firearms, and more than $5,000. Natalie Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. 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,. Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years as the New Generation Jalisco Cartel is challenging the Sinaloa and Juarez Cartels for the lucrative drug trafficking route into U.S., or plaza, especially in the Juarez Valley southeast of El Paso, Texas, a long-held Sinaloa Cartel stronghold. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The maximum penalty on conviction is from 10 years to life in prison. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); The 2nd Judicial District Attorney dismissed the case in January 2017, declaring it to be in the interests of justice.. Federal agents arrested them on Feb. 27 with assistance from state and local law enforcement. Marshals Office, DEA, and local law enforcement agencies made 100 arrests in a week. A drug-sniffing dog then alerted CBP officers to the rear door of the trailer. and receive the latest news each week on business, government, real estate and more! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . All rights reserved. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . Bridget Archuleta Counts 1, 4, 11 and 12. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Bryan Llenas reports on the attorney general's efforts on 'Special Reports'. }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020. 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. 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. 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. Despite the deputy seizing that much marijuana, its unlikely that the suspect will face charges, due to a technicality. 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. Know of a story that needs to be covered? The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. In addition, the DEA seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine worth over a million dollars at street value. Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. But, he add, he doesnt see the proposed border wall as a solution. 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. We were actually looking for the individuals that were involved in the armed robberies, Mace said. As a former U.S. Man who tried to smuggle drugs into medi-hotel asks to be spared prison. Have a question about Government Services? Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale . 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 . The bust has an estimated street value of approximately $800 million. Official websites use .gov 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. 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 . . Counts 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 charge certain defendants with use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Friday, February 7th, 2020 at 12:02AM. 2. 1. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Seventeen people were arrested apart of the same drug ring on a 66-count indictment. Subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 'EL CHAPO' GUZMAN'S FEARED SUCCESSOR CAPTURED OUTSIDE MEXICO CITY. 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. A further inspection of the vehicle revealed eight bundles concealed in different locations throughout the vehicle. 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. of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport googletag.enableServices(); During record checks at the station, agents determined that the man had an active warrant for his arrest in relation to a 2002 probation violation for Aggravated Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon by the Dallas Sheriffs Office. }); Agents working at the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso, Texas, seized 1,543 pounds of liquid methamphetamine on Feb. 12. googletag.enableServices(); "We are not talking about people that simply possess. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. During the traffic stop, Troopers identified several indicators of criminal activity, and a drug-sniffing K9 was requested to the scene, who subsequently indicated to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. Overwhelming most illegal drugs get through. A diplomatic row has frozen U.S.-Mexican efforts to target drug cartels. ALAMOGORDO, N.M. In separate incidents over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested a wanted aggravated felon and a narcotics smuggler. Count 3 of the indictment charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. CBP: Drug Seizures Dropped at Border Ports in SoCal in 2022. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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 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,. 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. Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested.. Attorney General James Busts Two Major Drug Trafficking Rings in Central New York 78 Individuals Indicted for Trafficking Cocaine, Heroin, and Fentanyl Throughout NYS; Illegal Possession of Firearms, Including Untraceable Ghost Guns AG James Has Taken More Than 1,400 Guns Off NYS's Streets Since 2019 According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, 2,266 people were arrested as part of Project Deliverance, and law enforcement seized 74 tons of illegal drugs and $154 million in cash. The Christian County prosecutor charged . 2. Two people got caught with an illegal psilocybin mushroom grow and other drugs in a Lyons home. Largest Database of New Mexico Mugshots. While the truckers manifest indicated the trailer held automotive body parts, an X-Ray machine detected anomalies that required further inspection, authorities said. A traffic stop for a minor violation led deputies to nearly 400 pounds of meth worth $1.5 million. 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. Legal Statement. We made over 100 arrests this week also seized 17 firearms and also seized about 6,000 grams of narcotics including heroin, meth, and marijuana, Sonya K. Chavez, Special Agent in charge for the U.S. Press Release. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Guzman once ran a major heroin and methamphetamine operation throughout the southwest. 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. Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Manuel Varela. "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. Legal Statement. 49 people connected to a drug ring are now off the streets of Chester County. He said most members were arrested in Chaparral, Carlsbad and Albuquerque, while others were arrested in El Paso, Denver and Atlanta. Marshal in El Paso, Vigil said he is aware of how drug cartels are impacting the region. 1. 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. gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot); An official website of the United States government. An indictment is only an accusation. Box 607 The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. For a $50,000 . Dona Ana . Everything from shipments of tomatoes, avocados, jalapenos and broccoli, to loads of cobblestones, lighting fixtures and electronic equipment were used in attempted smuggling cases at the border. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California. 2020 Election Business Tech . And the worst thing about prohibition is that USA tax payers pays to kill its own citizens and to create crime while they make drug lords extraordinarily wealthy and increases the corruption of politicians and law enforcement in Mexico and the USA. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. Main Office: 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. So far this year, there have been about 250 people murdered in the city. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Ryan Rodriguez allegedly acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 24. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the bust . Jun 29, 2022. swansea council parking contact number . When were talking a couple of hundred pounds of marijuana, it smells, Mace said. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. trader joe's chocolate ganache cake LIVE; madison 56ers apparel; recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. why was carrie's sister dropped from king of queens . 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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 from five to 40 years in prison. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By ABQJournal News Staff Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The defendants communicated extensively by telephone and text message about their drug trafficking business. 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. 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. 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. "Since the seizure didnt meet that weight requirement, the federal government declined to prosecute, simply interviewing the suspect and releasing him.. Were going to make sure that youre always looking over your shoulder, Vigil said about dangerous Mexican drug cartels making their way into Texas. According to a news release from the U.S. 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. of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. So, prohibition works to decrease small illegal drug sellers and to keep the biggest cartels on top. All rights reserved. He is looking forward to the 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents pledged by President Trump in one of his first executive orders. Still, Mace said, anything over two ounces will be a misdemeanor and possessing over eight ounces is considered a felony. Constantly updated. The arrests this week was the culmination of a year-long investigation. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Showing 1 - 10 of 10919 results. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants Feb. 25. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); His detention hearing is set for Friday. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The following agencies assisted with the investigation: Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force, which includes members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Taos Police Department. Federal agents arrested them Feb. 27 Thursday with assistance from state and local law enforcement. Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested. Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. And having a restricted supply increases the money that sellers can demand in exchange for the goods. New Mexico Bookings. 2023 New Mexico Sun. Police responded to the Mountain Run Shopping Center after Chavezs battered wife ran inside the Smiths grocery to hide from him. 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. In short, drug prohibition creates drug kingpins. An official website of the United States government. 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 first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. 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. They were charged with offenses such as distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs and heroin. The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. She said the drug problem contributes to other crime in the area. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot2', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767737710-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. The Mexican Navy conducted the first drug bust on August 16 in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is home to the . Official websites use .gov 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());