Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. . ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Border Patrol Agents In New Mexico Make Drug Bust and Arrest Aggravated Felon. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's San Diego field office announced this week that the total amount of narcotics seized at Southern . Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. The . But as we all know, we have a very long way to go. 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. John Tavares, 36, was sentenced on Feb. 7, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Leo. 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. It sounds like a lot but thats just a drop in the bucket, as far as the amount of narcotics that are moving across our state, Mace said in the KRQE article. CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes. Natalie Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12. "And the main driving force behind this overdose epidemic is the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl." googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); 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 . WATCH: Mexican marines destroyed 50 tons of meth found in a massive underground drug lab pic.twitter.com/CfdBmfk1XG. Police also seized 24 firearms, $102,000 in cash and three vehicles. It is important to note that an arrest or criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered evidence of guilt. Mexican Authorities Make Massive Drug Busts Worth Billions. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel. 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()); A lock ( Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. His detention hearing is set for Friday. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Florida, Maryland and Texas. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested.. of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Legal Statement. The special agent in charge of the DEA El Paso Division said operations like this will happen more frequently. 2. According to a news release from the U.S. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Telephone: (505) 346-7274 Five additional suspects were also charged and remain at large. 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. To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. Official websites use .gov Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Ryan Rodriguez allegedly acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta, is alleged to have participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. 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()); 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. The main target of this operation was the transportation infrastructure of the Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, Gonzales said. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, In addition, the DEA seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine worth over a million dollars at street value. Click below to share your thoughts. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; The 2nd Judicial District Attorney dismissed the case in January 2017, declaring it to be in the interests of justice.. or redistributed. And as a result of this operation several individuals who have been involved in contributing to that problem have been arrested, she said. Market data provided by Factset. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . 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. Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. 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. 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. 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. Jose Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Bridget Archuleta is charged in Counts 1, 4, 11, and 12. The massive bust was a collaboration between New Hampshire and Maine. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered to help unload and deliver the furnishings, 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. Among the individuals apprehended at the border some have prior criminal offenses or active warrants for aggravated assault offenses. Gonzales said 39 members of the group were charged in a federal indictment, and 26 have been arrested, so far. Were going to make sure that youre always looking over your shoulder, Vigil said about dangerous Mexican drug cartels making their way into Texas. 2. drug bust news stories - get the latest updates from ABC13. A locked padlock To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. 0:51. 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. Seventeen people were arrested apart of the same drug ring on a 66-count indictment. The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. Main Office: Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Click Share This Page button to display social media links. DRUG CARTELS IN MEXICO BEING TAKEN OVER BY RUTHLESS, BUT CHARMING, WOMEN. (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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He said most members were arrested in Chaparral, Carlsbad and Albuquerque, while others were arrested in El Paso, Denver and Atlanta. 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. So, prohibition works to decrease small illegal drug sellers and to keep the biggest cartels on top. 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. Constantly updated. The situation there is simply not acceptable, he said at a news conference in Albuquerque. 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,. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Bryan Llenas reports on the attorney general's efforts on 'Special Reports'. 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. Nineteen suspected members of the ring were arrested. Know of a story that needs to be covered? Chavez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and charged with four counts of drug trafficking and three counts of possession of stolen property. Gonzales said the Espaola Valley has a very serious heroin problem and has grappled with it for many years. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. An officer who works on a federal drug task force made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Feb. 10. CBP: Drug Seizures Dropped at Border Ports in SoCal in 2022. Marshal in El Paso, Vigil said he is aware of how drug cartels are impacting the region. Were going to be knocking on your doors soon its just a matter of time. In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. All six defendants were arrested and remain in custody pending detention hearings. His lieutenant gets pulled over and loses the meth. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. And having a restricted supply increases the money that sellers can demand in exchange for the goods. Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . Theyre asking anyone who knows where he is, to call the police. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. (Google Maps). Anytime we get a bust like that, were ecstatic were able to keep those narcotics from getting into other communities, Mace said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. All rights reserved. Despite the deputy seizing that much marijuana, its unlikely that the suspect will face charges, due to a technicality. All rights reserved. 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. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants Feb. 25. 0:04. 1. An official website of the United States government. 1. We need more boots on the ground because a wall will not solve illegal immigration or drug trafficking, Vigil said. 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. 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. "That's a record number of drug overdoses in the history of tracking these types of statistics," Olesky said. Quintana-Arias faces federal drug charges and was arraigned Friday. 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,. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. LockA locked padlock Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. For a $50,000 . The 16-month investigation targeted members of the Sinaloa Cartel, once headed by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is currently in jail awaiting trial in Brooklyn Federal Court. 4. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Agents at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge seized 1,527 pounds of methamphetamine on July 9. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. All rights reserved. P.O. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS }); Agents working at the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso, Texas, seized 1,543 pounds of liquid methamphetamine on Feb. 12. Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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 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 . The cartels are very ingrained in New Mexico communities with cells and stash houses. Have a concern or an opinion about this story? }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 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 . Still, Mace said, anything over two ounces will be a misdemeanor and possessing over eight ounces is considered a felony. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Market data provided by Factset. Michael Guzman. A traffic stop for a minor violation led deputies to nearly 400 pounds of meth worth $1.5 million. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Upon examination, the deputy discovered seven duffle bags filled with marijuana, registering a street value of more than $1 million. Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. April has been a relatively peaceful month so far in Juarez. Here are five of the biggest U.S.-Mexico border drug busts this year.