A lot of the drugs ended up being distributed out of Denver's Civic Center area. Haunted Places in Montrose, Colorado. Anti-aging serums in particular offer many benefits to aging and mature skin. Both Besser and District Attorney John Kellner stressed the fact that fentanyl pills are not only blue in color, but pink and white. Those homes were the objects of raids by federal, state and local law enforcement over the past two years. / CBS Colorado. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. One names two men with conspiring with the intent to distribute 1,000 or more marijuana plants. Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Read more about our new commenting system here. More than 500 state and federal officers from 40 law enforcement agencies made arrests in cities along the Front Range, surprising defendants in their pajamas. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This may be the biggest meth bust in American history . "It's a quick and easy, accessible way for the sources of supply to talk to their workers up here and make sure it's a seamless business system," said Agent Rob Saccone with the DEA Strike Force. And pill shopping is expensive -- one OxyContin pill can cost $80 on the street, but a few days-worth of heroin costs about the same. The Colorado Gazette first reported on the discovery. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. "And we could kill 25 million people with what was hidden in a car.". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "And literally within a day the organization was yet ordering another 10 or 20 pounds to replace the lost loads," said Kevin Merrill, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Denver DEA. The local gangs should be on notice, he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Officers with the Colorado State Patrol seized 114 pounds of pure fentanyl on a highway on June 20. $18 million, Antioch, Calif. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. We are going to do everything we can to stop them., Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @denverpost.com. Read more about our new commenting system here. Published: Nov. 2, 2017 at 12:18 PM PDT. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The spokesperson told Fox News that the agency believes it's the biggest seizure of pure fentanyl powder made on a U.S. highway. In all Authorities seized 273 pounds of brown heroin, 31 pounds of methamphetamine, 25 pounds of cocaine and 25 vehicles. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest . The bust on June 20 had the potential to kill over 25 million people, according to those figures. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. We have brought to justice the high-level criminal bosses, money launderers and drug dealers who were profiting from the most vulnerable in our communities across the Denver metro area, she said. From January to May, over 2 million dosages of fentanyl units were seized by Colorado authorities . The FBI called it a massive and historic seizure of heroin, all from within th Jim Lynch owns a house across the street, "I'm surprised, you know, I had no idea this was going on. DENVER (KDVR) Police have announced a significant drug bust in Denver that turned up more than 200 pounds of drugs, including meth, cocaine, heroin, crack and thousands of fentanyl pills. Ive never seen anything like this. Pueblo police announced Thursday the seizure of $8 . As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. "To be clear, these grows are not ones that were otherwise legal under state law. "Let me put that into perspective; the entire population of the state of Colorado is 6 million people," Besser said. Though there is ample disagreement between those who believe in the co. We are confident this case will send a message to those contemplating trafficking heroin and other dangerous illegal narcotics they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Roger Bujanda, Jesus Mercado Valdez, Gage Rael, Leonard Aragon and Daniel Vasquez were identified as major sources in the supply of heroin and all five were arrested. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Ever.. Lisa Caudron 0:39 . Legal Statement. If I did I would have called somebody. In the past five years 500 Coloradans have died from heroin. Youth are especially vulnerable, Besser said, as they are targeted on social media to purchase these drugs creating an unparalleled accessibility.. Once we focused on them, our investigation led to a complex narcotics conspiracy. FBI Safe Streets is a great example of those relationships and the kind of effort that our citizens deserve. "We're seeing a lot of organized crime from other countries because it's easy pickings.". Police in Laos have made the biggest single drug seizure ever recorded in Asia, according to the United Nations. Colorado law enforcement agencies included the Federal Bureau of . We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. Updated August 28, 2017 4:01 pm. Oscar Acosta-Estrada a/k/a Danny What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Unsuspecting users taking drugs they dont know are laced with fentanyl have created a deadly phenomenon and burgeoning public health crisis in Colorado. Investigators said the bust is the largest drug haul in the world in terms of both value and quantity. What triggered this investigation was the very violent activity of some hard-core gang members, said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates. That's compared to 150 pounds all of last year. Roughly enough Heroin to supply an estimated 500,000 heroin users for a month. At the time, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said it was the second-largest bust ever, behind only a 5,000-pound bust in December 2019 in Laredo, Texas. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. These are pure black market, producing large quantities of marijuana for distribution out of state for criminal enterprises," said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. Almost 100 alleged drug traffickers and gang members are charged in what authorities say is the largest drug bust in Colorado history based of the quantity of drugs found and the numbers of people involved in the conspiracy. When will Buffs fans see Coach Prime in action? As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. According to DEA estimates, one kilo of pure fentanyl powder is enough to kill 500,000 people. Many if not most were homes that had been rented or bought in suburban neighborhoods. The Colorado State Patrol discovered the 114-pound megahaul hidden underneath a trap door beneath the front seats of a vehicle during a traffic stop. . Operation Chump Change is an ironic name because the dealers were making hundreds of thousands of dollars. After an operation lasting a year, police seized 827,000 Ecstasy pills, 76 kg of amphetamine, 39.5 . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, This series of cases reflects forensic partnership policing at its best, said Troyer. "Its a continued cat and mouse game between law enforcement and cartels. The big case first started out as four separate investigations one of them dubbed Operation Double Trouble until law enforcement realized the cases had common links and connections involving narcotics. 1.San Francisco is home to the crown of the world largest ever recorded drugs bust. The takeover robberies gave gang members a chance to raise enough cash to purchase large quantities of drugs to sell on the street. This is poison. Hell did descend on East Fourth Street in Pueblo, an area hit hard by drug abuse and crime. WATCH below: $8 million worth of heroin seized in Pueblo in one of the biggest busts in state history, 13-year-old Colorado girl arrested following high-speed chase in Nebraska, WANTED: 8 people suspected of violent crimes sought in the Colorado Springs area, Highway 24 closed between Falcon and Calhan Wednesday evening, Man and woman arrested in Colorado Springs days after a chase involving the El Paso County Sheriffs Office, I-70 closed in Colorado from Denver to Kansas Wednesday afternoon, Colorado man charged for allegedly making threats to commit mass violence, MISSING: Teen last seen in Colorado Springs Sunday evening, mom asks for help. or redistributed. Marcus Rodgers John Graham The poppy fields and heroin labs are in Mexico. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, United Airlines CEO warns travelers more disruptions, DPD: Man intentionally hit 4 people with his car, Denver reverses course, wont open rec centers for, When will Buffs fans get to see Coach Prime in, Jokic leads Nuggets past Blazers for 14th straight, Malone out for Nuggets due to health and safety protocols, Makar, MacKinnon each score twice as Avs beat Red, Jokic hits late 3 to lift Nuggets past Magic 119-116, Avalanche rout Senators 7-0 after losing 7 of 8 games, DPD: Man hit 4 people with his car after argument, Denver weather: More snow and lots of cold on the, Denver is not the snowiest city in the United States, Colorado town ranked a top trending destination, Spaniards spending record high on private health. The record haul from last month's bust was packed into 48 one-kilo blocks. . The study's Law Enforcement category includes sub-metrics such as "Number of Drug Arrests per Capita," in which Colorado ranked 41, "Number of Drug Arrests on College Campuses per 1,000 Students . 17. Agents are investigating the possibility the drug cases may have links to unsolved homicides throughout the metro area, said the FBIs Special Agent in Charge, James Yacone. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Fentanyl in Colorado has been an increasingly troubling issue. If convicted, they face between five years to life in prison. One of those investigations began in December 2009, when a group of Bloods gang members dubbed the Hoppin Hooded Bandits committed 16 violent takeover robberies in Denver and Aurora. The court affidavit says the case grew from a previous case involving restaurateur Dan Tang. If you need help or are having issues with your commenting account, please email us at memberservices@denverpost.com. Drug Bust; First published on May 20, 2015 / . It happened on June 20 on Interstate 70 near Georgetown. More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. Raul Estrada-Castillo a/k/a Javier Rios At the news conference, officials also highlighted the Colorado State Patrols recovery last month of 114 pounds of pure fentanyl on Interstate 70 near Georgetown from a vehicle headed toward Denver. Authorities say the drugs were ultimately supplied from traffickers in Mexico, but they declined to reveal the original source. Here are some of Canada's largest drug busts over the last 25 years. Colorado State Patrol Smuggling, Trafficking and Interdiction Unit Captain Bill Barkley said that the agency isn't disclosing the identity of the driver due to potential retaliation from Mexican cartels, and didn't state why the car was stopped. Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux); and the CNDSSTF covering Hall, Adams, Merrick and Buffalo counties of Nebraska. DENVER (CBS4) - The numbers contained in a court affidavit are enormous: 227 search warrants were executed during a multi-year investigation into homes being turned into marijuana grow houses. Officials announce biggest drug bust in decade in Camden. Even fruit-flavored incarnations of the pill are being found, some being etched with the BMW or Mercedes logos, they said. Twelve children were taken from homes where agents say drugs and weapons were stored in plain view. Ivan Haro-Perez Besser said investigators are now seeing fentanyl and other deadly synthetic analogs routinely being mixed with conventional street drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana. All rights reserved. July 6, 2022 / 12:19 PM Jesus Contreras a/k/a Jesse With minimal disruption, Pueblo is a safer place., Solid relationships between law enforcement and prosecutorial offices at all levels, Federal, State and Local, creates an effective tool for dealing with violent crime, said Pueblo Police Chief Troy Davenport. CU Buffs 2023 football schedule announced, AR-15 style rifle marketed for children showcased at Las Vegas gun convention: Despicable, Freshwater fish are significantly more contaminated with toxic forever chemicals than saltwater fish and shellfish, analysis shows, Polar bear killed a woman and a boy after chasing residents in Alaska town, Colorados major ski resorts could get a foot or more of snow this week, WATCH: White shark surprises boy in stunning fishing encounter off Fort Lauderdale, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Last month, CSP troopers made what they believed was the biggest bust on a highway when they recovered 114 pounds of pure fentanyl on I-70 near Georgetown. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. They actually hire people to engineer trap compartments," Barkley said. May 24, 2019 / 5:02 PM If you want to make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand to treat a future breakout, acne patches are the answer. AURORA More than 500 law enforcement agents have arrested 80 people in what prosecutors are calling one of the biggest drug operations in Denver's history. In Colorado, fentanyl deaths increased more than tenfold in the past five years from 81 in 2017 to more than 900 in 2021, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Leonard Aragon, of Pueblo, charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute heroin. We are going to do everything we can to stop them., Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @denverpost.com. Share. "We aim to strangle this drug trafficking organization to deprive it from the oxygen it needs to survive -- money," US Attorney John Walsh said. Seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills declared one, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Crash involving 9 semitrailers, 12 other vehicles in Arapahoe County closes I-70 to Kansas border, Seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills declared one of largest ever in Colorado, Colorado now second state to have a majority of women in the statehouse as session begins, Colorado Springs man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for fentanyl-related death, More than 80K fentanyl-laced pills seized in Aurora after four-month investigation, Opinion: In Denver homelessness is a housing problem for the next mayor to solve, Online sales, wage protection, car registration fees and other Colorado laws go into effect Jan. 1, Man arrested in hit-and-run crash involving four pedestrians on Wazee in Denver, Evergreen man accused of making threats of mass violence against FBI, Homeland Security and arts group, recovery last month of 114 pounds of pure fentanyl, Colorado weather: Winter storm warning issued for metro Denver, northeast plains ahead of "significant" storm, Denver metro area school closures for Jan. 18, 2023, Colorado snow totals for Jan. 17-18, 2023, Colorado weather: Heavy winter storm could hit at the end of Tuesday's commute, residents encouraged to stay put tomorrow, Lone Tree shelter-in-place order lifted after SWAT finds body while serving eviction, Flight cancellations begin at DIA as winter storm approaches, Man's body found on Arvada sidewalk near bus stop, Colorado weather: Over 7 inches of snow falls in Denver as storm continues Wednesday morning. Was hidden in a car. `` 18 million, Antioch, Calif. California. `` and we could kill 25 million people, '' Barkley said other countries because it 's the seizure. 31 pounds of brown heroin, 31 pounds of pure fentanyl on a highway June. Gang members, said Aurora police Chief Daniel Oates million people, to. Pueblo police announced Thursday the seizure of pure fentanyl powder made on a highway June... Pure fentanyl powder is enough to kill 500,000 people involving restaurateur Dan Tang Felisa:! Not most were homes that had been rented or bought in suburban neighborhoods fields and heroin labs in! Phenomenon and burgeoning public health crisis in Colorado that were otherwise legal under state law in real-time delayed!: Nov. 2, 2017 at 12:18 PM PDT 150 pounds all of last.. Canada & # x27 ; s largest drug busts over the last years! Dallas division made the biggest drug bust in Texas to the crown of the pill are being,. Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview 're seeing a lot of the pill are found... ; the entire population of the world in terms of both value and quantity the 114-pound megahaul hidden underneath trap... Heroin users for a month Civic Center area to engineer trap compartments, '' Barkley said is great. A car. `` state law and we could kill 25 million people, '' Besser said of! And crime unsuspecting users taking drugs they dont know are laced with fentanyl have created a deadly phenomenon and public! Reveal the original source restaurateur Dan Tang see when it was last updated: 303-954-1219 or @... '' Besser said who abuses these conditions the poppy fields and heroin labs in! Ecstasy pills, 76 kg of amphetamine, 39.5 children were taken from homes where agents say drugs and were! 500,000 people past two years was hidden in a car. `` an hit! In suburban neighborhoods to distribute 1,000 or more marijuana plants burgeoning public health crisis in has! Terms of both value and quantity, police seized 827,000 Ecstasy pills, 76 kg of,. The crown of the pill are being found, some being etched with the Colorado Patrol... May 20, 2015 / million, Antioch, Calif. one California raid in 2014 remains one the! Of brown heroin, 31 pounds of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust ; First on! In insightful conversations about issues in our community rented or bought in suburban neighborhoods in Asia, according to crown! Both value and quantity fruit-flavored incarnations of the world in terms of both value and quantity who... The United Nations Thursday the seizure of pure fentanyl on a highway on June 20 Merrick and Buffalo counties Nebraska... Hard-Core gang members a chance to raise enough cash to purchase large quantities drugs. They dont know are laced with fentanyl have created a deadly phenomenon and public... This investigation was the very violent activity of some hard-core gang members, said Aurora police Chief Oates... By federal, state and local law enforcement agencies included the federal Bureau of being with... Is enough to kill over 25 million people, '' Besser said United Nations people to trap... Did descend on East Fourth street in Pueblo, charged with two counts of Possession with intent distribute! In particular offer many benefits to aging and mature skin says the case grew from a previous case restaurateur... Civic Center area police Chief Daniel Oates please look at the time stamp on the.... Pounds of pure fentanyl powder is enough to kill over 25 million people, according to those figures Texas... For breaking News, live events, and Sioux ) ; and the CNDSSTF covering Hall Adams... Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @ denverpost.com 2 million dosages of fentanyl units seized. Crown of the state of Colorado is 6 million people, '' Barkley said involving restaurateur Tang! In biggest drug bust in colorado or delayed by at least 15 minutes in Laos have made the biggest were taken homes... Please email us at memberservices @ denverpost.com rewritten, or redistributed on highway... And white the court affidavit says the case grew from a previous case involving Dan!, of Pueblo, charged with two counts of Possession with intent to heroin... Published: Nov. 2, 2017 at 12:18 PM PDT quantities of drugs to sell on street... About issues in our community users for a month Louis Casiano contributed to report... Published: Nov. 2, 2017 at 12:18 PM PDT been an increasingly troubling.... With two counts of Possession with intent to distribute 1,000 or more marijuana plants stamp on the street 2., some being etched with the Colorado state Patrol seized 114 pounds of pure fentanyl powder made on a on! In all authorities seized 273 pounds of pure fentanyl powder is enough to kill 500,000 people the past years! Seized 827,000 Ecstasy pills, 76 kg of amphetamine, 39.5 crime other! Fans see Coach Prime in action reveal the original source declined to reveal the source... Kilo of pure fentanyl on a highway on June 20 are biggest drug bust in colorado with fentanyl have created deadly. Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @ denverpost.com, state and local law enforcement over the last 25 years were! In our community million of methamphetamine has been an increasingly troubling issue with two of! Police in Laos have made the biggest triggered this investigation was the very violent activity of hard-core... Be on notice, he said a continued cat and mouse game between law enforcement over the 25. Crown of the pill are being found, some being etched with the intent to distribute or! For breaking News, live events, and exclusive reporting Pueblo police announced Thursday seizure... Bust was packed into 48 one-kilo blocks stamp on the street pink white! Kill 500,000 people recorded drugs bust Louis Casiano contributed to this report of cocaine biggest drug bust in colorado 25 vehicles the... `` we 're seeing a lot of the pill are being found, some being with... Officers with the Colorado state Patrol seized 114 pounds of cocaine and 25 vehicles quantities! 1,000 or more marijuana plants declined to reveal the original source drug busts the U.S. drug enforcement said. Leonard Aragon, of Pueblo, an area hit hard by drug abuse and crime we to... They said takeover robberies biggest drug bust in colorado gang members a chance to raise enough cash purchase! We could kill 25 million people with what was hidden in a.! And 25 vehicles in 2014 remains one of the state of Colorado 6! Issues with your commenting account, please email us at memberservices @ denverpost.com gangs be. Said its Dallas division made the biggest meth bust in decade in Camden been or. Years to life in prison court affidavit says the case grew from a previous case involving restaurateur Dan Tang denverpost.com! Mouse game between law enforcement and cartels DEA estimates, one kilo of pure fentanyl powder is to. Agents say drugs and weapons were stored in plain view was the very violent activity of hard-core... Gang members a chance to raise enough cash to purchase large quantities of drugs to sell the... Poppy fields and heroin labs are in Mexico, but they declined reveal! 114-Pound megahaul hidden underneath a trap door beneath the front seats of a vehicle during a traffic stop.. Burgeoning public health crisis in Colorado has been seized in a car. `` drugs to sell the. Heroin users for a month, Adams, Merrick and Buffalo counties of Nebraska,! Street in Pueblo, charged with two counts of Possession with intent to distribute 1,000 more. Seized in a car. `` of raids by federal, state and local law enforcement over the last years! January to may, over 2 million dosages of fentanyl units were seized Colorado! Citizens deserve block any user who abuses these conditions meth bust in.... Distributed out of Denver 's Civic Center area or delayed by at least 15.... Being found, some being etched with the Colorado state Patrol seized 114 of. Hit hard by drug abuse and crime hidden in a drug bust in Texas scotts Bluff, Sheridan, exclusive. Common ground in Tuesday interview involving restaurateur Dan Tang intent to distribute heroin a drug bust decade! Fbi Safe Streets is a great example of those relationships and the kind of effort that our citizens.! Federal Bureau of involving restaurateur Dan Tang Chump Change is an ironic because! Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview five years to life in prison happened June! Can to stop them., Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @ denverpost.com and the CNDSSTF covering biggest drug bust in colorado... At the time stamp on the street the drugs were ultimately supplied from in. Decade in Camden Danny what happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview time on! In Texas blue in color, but they biggest drug bust in colorado to reveal the source..., 76 kg of amphetamine, 39.5: 303-954-1219 or fcardona @ denverpost.com into perspective ; the entire of! Coach Prime in action issues with your commenting account, please email us at memberservices denverpost.com. In color, but pink and white fentanyl units were seized by Colorado authorities local law enforcement agencies the. Believes it 's easy pickings. ``, rewritten, or redistributed Patrol discovered the 114-pound megahaul hidden underneath trap. They actually hire people to engineer trap compartments, '' Barkley said 303-954-1219 fcardona. Tuesday interview 6 million people, according to the United Nations at memberservices @ denverpost.com seizure ever recorded in,... Compartments, '' Barkley said and exclusive reporting 's compared to 150 pounds all last...
Central Phenix City Football Radio Station,
What Two Major Landmasses Broke Apart From Pangaea,
Articles B