Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS. An increasing number of American citizens have been apprehended as they have tried to smuggle illegal drugs into the U.S. since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, an uptick that's come amid travel restrictions at the border with Mexico. A 28-year-old Kent man was among 16 indicted after arrests over the last 10 days as part of a multistate methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, a Mexican resident, was arrested Thursday after 17,584 pounds of meth and 389 pounds of fentanyl were seized. Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at http://www.HopeInitiativeNM.org. An official website of the United States government. Sheriff Manuel Gonzales said in a statement that such operations in Albuquerque continue to produce results that are helping to make the community safer. WASHINGTON Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared during his inaugural address last August that the time has come for a new approach in the international war on drugs, which he argued has failed and failed resoundingly.. It is the duty and responsibility of the community to watch-out for each other.. Dockery is charged in a criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Lucero Complaint Legal Statement. P.O. A lock ( Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at, Rio Rancho Man Charged with Possession of Destructive Devices, Artistas Asesinos Cartel leader sentenced to 27 years for drug trafficking, Prison escapee sentenced to 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge resulting from shooting of Farmington Police Officer. Santa Clara: Investigation underway into attempted bank robbery, Pleasanton: Suspects sought in fatal stabbing during robbery attempt, Attacks on delivery drivers add to gig workers fears, Search for missing Oklahoma teens leads to house, 7 dead, U.S. Attorneys office announced that 1,000, Harriette Cole: My friend's mom didn't recognize me at my job, and she was very rude. The defendants were arrested on June 15 in a joint law enforcement operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Daisy Hidalgo, 22, of Anthony, N.M., is charged in Counts 1 and 36-37 of the indictment. According to a re Customs and Border Protection), BLINKEN VISITS CENTRAL AMERICA AS PROLONGED MIGRANT CRISIS RAMPS UP PRESSURE ON BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? San Jose police bust 7 underground casinos, yielding guns, drugs, nearly $300,000 in cash 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. In 2021, the Latin American country produced 972 tons of cocaine that are exported mostly to the United States, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reported last July. Rivas-Aguilar is in custody on a federal marijuana trafficking charge in the Western District of Texas and will be transferred to the District of New Mexico to face the charges in the indictment. Drug busts in DC area, 7 states linked to Sinaloa cartel; drugs, guns, $5.4 million seized. Luna-Rosales has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. They will be charged in criminal complaints to be filed today with drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. The U.S. Attorneys Office said both amounts would be the largest seizures of either drug in the U.S. in both 2020 or 2021. Jose Mendoza, 32, and Natalie Mendoza, 35, of Medanales; Ryan Rodriguez, 27, of Chamita; Andrea Rodriguez, 28, and Edvardo Carlson, 39, of Espaola, and Bridget Archuleta, 31, of San Juan Pueblo, appeared in federal court Friday 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. Peter Ryan Lynch was charged with receipt or possession of a destructive device. DEA-Led Investigation Included Seizures of 30 Kilograms of Heroin, 64 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 17 Kilograms of Cocaine, 20 Kilograms of Marijuana, 24 Firearms, $102,000 in Currency and Three Vehicle. The Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo said drug gang leader Hector Flores Aceves, known by his nickname "Pantera," or the Panther, was involved in the killings. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Telephone: (505) 346-7274 The maximum statutory penalty for a conviction on each of these counts is imprisonment for four years and a $250,000 fine. . In the September 1 bust, the FBI partnered with local police and other federal agents to seize the large quantity of fentanyl. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting this case. "Drug organizations are much more adept at changing than the government is," said Manjarrez, now a professor of border and national security at the University of Texas, El Paso. Michael Collins covers the White House. Briseo-Lopez has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. Fernandez was arrested this morning in Albuquerque. The drug bust was the latest step in Operation Atonement, an FBI operation aimed at dismantling the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to 20 years in prison. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. "As cross-border travel shifted to essential travel only, criminal organizations shifted their operations as well," the agency said in a recent statement. ", Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q4) [+] - Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q3) [+] - Prescription Drug . We are honored to work hand in hand with our federal partners, the DEA and the U.S. Attorneys Office in achieving the ultimate goal of keeping our streets safe., Doa Ana County Sheriff Enrique Vigil said, I can say with confidence that our local law-enforcement agencies are committed to doing all that we can to bring fugitives to justice, and will continue working together to make our great state of New Mexico a safe place. Indictment in United States v. Luis Angel Briseo-Lopez, et al., 17-CR-1032-RB. The drug bust marks the second time this year that federal authorities in the Bay Area have touted large-scale methamphetamine seizures. The charges against Lucero arise out of the seizure of approximately 24.4 pounds (11 kilograms) of heroin and 2.45 pounds (1.1 kilogram) of cocaine by the U.S. Border Patrol on March 10, 2017, during an inspection at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 25 north of Las Cruces, N.M. Bahe was arrested this morning in Las Cruces. "This was long overdue," Martinez said. Court records did not show that an attorney had been appointed for him yet. The drugs were concealed in a vehicle driven by 23-year-old U.S. citizen traveling from Mexico. In the first four months of the 2021 fiscal year, 505 Americans were arrested with drugs concealed in their bodies at southern checkpoints, compared with just 35 people from all other countries during the same period. The maximum penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than five years or more than 40 years and a $5 million fine. There was at least one arrest for child abuse as well. The criminal complaint charges Maria Isabel Reyes, 37, and Roberta Guillermina Ornelas, 38, both of Horizon City, Tex., with conspiracy and possession of more than a pound of heroin with intent to distribute. The latest videos from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos 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. ALBUQUERQUE - Twenty-eight individuals are facing drug trafficking and money laundering charges as the result of a federal investigation targeting a Mexican drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for importing large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico, and distributing the drugs in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas . It was his first arrest in Bernalillo County. According to court papers filed by federal prosecutors, authorities had been pursuing the drug ring since 2018, but a prior investigation was thwarted. Each location has its own hours of operation, and a unique set of services. (7News) ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) On Wednesday federal and local . Alberto Terrazas-Ignacio, 24, of Albuquerque, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 2, 6, 15-18, 20-28, 32-33 and 44 of the indictment. ST. LOUIS - The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) busted a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking ring and 11 people from St. Louis have been arrested for their role. This time, investigators tailed suspected drug dealers and pulled them over when they were believed to have methamphetamine in their cars. Law enforcement officials and drug trafficking experts say the border rules put in place in April 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus and their lopsided enforcement are driving the rise in U.S. citizens involved in borderland drug busts. Market data provided by Factset. Lock An indictment is only an accusation. The statutory penalty for a conviction on the charges in the complaint is imprisonment for not less than ten years nor more than life and a $10 million fine. "But generally speaking people sometimes may find themselves in a bind. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. The rules have been extended until at least June 21, but Mexican authorities have allowed most U.S. citizens to walk or drive south across the border with relative ease. We are proud to partner with these other fine law enforcement agencies as we work together to protect our citizens and our future from the selfish criminals that look to profit by exploiting our neighborhoods and our children, said, Jeffrey D. Self, Chief Patrol Agent, El Paso Sector. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) - A traffic stop in Cibola County led to the discovery of more than half a million dollars worth of drugs. His battles with the church arent over, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! We rely on each other to help keep our communities safe from those who defy our laws., Through partnerships within our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, those communities and families affected by criminal activity can rest assured, that at the end of the day, we are all here to Serve and Protect. This April 2019 file photo shows the port of entry from Mexicali, Mexico to Calexico, Calif. (AP/West Coast Aerial Photography Inc.), KAMALA HARRIS HAS GONE 69 DAYS WITHOUT A NEWS CONFERENCE SINCE BEING TASKED WITH BORDER CRISIS ROLE. Data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Elias Buck was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years in prison. Since 2016, fentanyl abuse has been a primary driver of overdose deaths across the nation. Crime and Public Safety | Officials found the packages of drugs inside the trailer, which also contained a few automotive body parts, the complaint said. Have a question about Government Services? The maximum statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is 20 years and a $500,000. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Bridget Archuleta Counts 1, 4, 11 and 12. Authorities estimate the street value of the drugs to be $360,000. Fax (505) 346-7296. Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that. Abundio Rene Cantu, a lawyer representing Mendoza, said he believes his client was offered a reward "in the thousands" of dollars. Prosecution of those who manufacture and distribute these illicit and dangerous narcotics is and must remain a top priority for the District of New Mexico., The drug trafficking organizations that produce and distribute these potentially-lethal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl care only about one thing: maximizing profits, said Kyle W. Williamson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations El Paso Division. On June 9, a federal grand jury indicted Seibel and Pettit on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and four counts of distribution of 40 grams and more of fentanyl. This undated photo provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows seized drug bundles containing 132 pounds of methamphetamine on display from Feb. 25, 2021, at the Laredo port of entry. Jesus A. Flores, 39, a legal permanent resident of Anthony, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 38 and 43 of the indictment. Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2022-Q1), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q4), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q3), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q2), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2021-Q1), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q4), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q3), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q2). Illegal fentanyl, a synthetic opioid thats much stronger than morphine, is primarily produced in Mexico, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than ten years or more than life and a $10 million fine. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - New Mexico State Police are doing anything they can to track down drug dealers and social media is becoming a big tool. Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? The indictment includes 77 overt acts allegedly committed by the defendants in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Three people have been arrested after a traffic stop in New Mexico led agents to a drug bust in Amarillo. An official website of the United States government. Cantu estimates the number of cases he's handled of U.S. citizens facing drug smuggling charges has doubled since 2019. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Diego Armando Rivas-Aguilar, 23, a Mexican national, is charged in Counts 1 and 33 of the indictment. Counts 14, 25, 35 and 36 charge certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The citizens of New Mexico are safer today because of the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies. Additionally, defendant Edvardo Carlson is alleged to have conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. Market data provided by Factset. ABBOTT BLASTS OPEN BORDER BIDEN FOR FAILING TO STOP FLOW OF FENTANYL COMING INTO US. Charges in indictments and criminal complaints are only accusations. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. It charges one defendant with a firearms offense. The statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than ten years or more than life and a $10 million fine. They believe those drugs were purchased from a supplier in San Diego. P.O. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. During a traffic stop involving a refrigerated tractor-trailer, law enforcement found 1,950 pounds of drugs (worth about $45 million), making it the biggest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. Daniel Verduzco is believed to have remained in Mexico since that time, federal prosecutors wrote in the motion. The New Mexico Department of Health operates several administrative offices around the state that oversee regional and statewide office operations. Mexican traffickers, however, have long recruited Americans for the job. Lucero was arrested on March 10, 2017, and remains in federal custody pending trial. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico, Federal Domestic Violence Statutes and Elements for Prosecution, Members of Albuquerque drug trafficking organization charged with possessing, trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, Artistas Asesinos Cartel leader sentenced to 27 years for drug trafficking, Federal jury convicts Albuquerque man of drug trafficking offenses and federal firearm violation, Mexican drug trafficker sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. On Tuesday, Oct., officers with the New Mexico State. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. Criminal Complaint in United States v. Reyes, et al., 17-MJ-1042-SMV. (AP/U.S. Francisco Luna-Rosales, 50, a legal permanent resident who resides in Albuquerque, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 27, 29, 38 and 40-42 of the indictment. In August, federal authorities made what they then called likely the largest meth bust in U.S. history, finding more than 5,528 pounds of the drug inside a big rig that crossed from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The charges are the result of a 16-month DEA-led investigation during which law enforcement authorities seized approximately 30 kilograms of heroin, 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 17 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of marijuana, 24 firearms, $102,000 in currency, and three vehicles. Cargo trucks line up to cross into the United States at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry near the border in Tijuana on April 2, 2019. Customs and Border Protection figures show the agency seized nearly 92,000 poundsof drugs from vehicles at southern ports of entry between October 2020 and May. ), Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. Hours of operation and contact information are provided below. Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2022-Q4), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2022-Q3), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2022-Q2). The maximum penalty on conviction is from 10 years to life in prison. Crime and Public Safety | Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta, is alleged to have participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. Mryna Montemayor, a public defender representing Barboza, did not respond to an email seeking comment. Drug raid:Italy seizes 4 tons of cocaine worth $256 million in bust linked to Colombian drug operation. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. Friday, May 7, 2021. Fax (505) 346-7296. U.S. citizens were apprehended nearly seven times more often than Mexican citizens between October 2020 and March 31 for trying to smuggle drugs in vehicles, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows. DEA will continue to disrupt and dismantle these DTOs to break the wave of fentanyl flooding and endangering our communities.. This entire investigation is a perfect example of an interdiction that continued into a perfectly executed investigation through a unified effort., The results of this multi-agency operation reflects greatly on the partnership and commitment of dedicated men and women to combat the poisoning of our communities with highly addictive and dangerous drugs, said Waldemar Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. The 2018 investigation was halted after two such tracking devices were discovered, and in November 2020, the drug rings alleged leader, Daniel Noe Verduzco-Ramirez, discovered a device on his car, authorities say. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. WASHINGTON - Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared during his inaugural address last August that the time has come for a new approach in the international war on drugs, which he . U.S. government destroying the dollars value through inflation. The 44-count indictment, which was filed under seal on April 19, 2017 and unsealed earlier today, alleges that the 23 defendants charged therein participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine between April 2016 and April 2017. 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. 2:12. Juan R. Gutierrez, 30, of Belen, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 2 and 18-20 of the indictment. Biden has been under attack from congressional Republicans who argue that his administration has been weak on drug enforcement. Count 3 charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. SAN JOSE Federal authorities say they raided a stash house here containing 588 pounds of methamphetamine, part of a series of seizures that yielded some 650 pounds of the drug in total. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? Arrests of U.S. citizens who bring drugs through in their bodies also have risen. HOPEs law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Telephone: (505) 346-7274 Briseno-Lopez Indictment The criminal complaint charges Jose Fernando Lucero, 24, of Las Cruces, N.M., with conspiracy and possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute. Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said it would have caused incredible damage in our communities.. De Santiago was arrested this morning in Sunland Park. U.S. citizens had been apprehended about 2,400 times by late March for drug smuggling during inspections of vehicles crossing those checkpoints. Dominguez-Cuellar is in custody on a federal alien smuggling charge in the District of New Mexico. Details of the investigation, which started in October 2020, were revealed in court records filed this week that included an indictment charging four people with involvement in a drug ring that . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It was a three-month operation that. Official websites use .gov Twenty-three of the 28 defendants are charged in a 44-count indictment, three are charged in two separate criminal complaints, and two will be charged in criminal complaints being filed today. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to four years in prison. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Hollywood writers to go on strike for first time in over 15 years, slamming 'gig economy', Italy seizes 4 tons of cocaine worth $256 million in bust linked to Colombian drug operation, fentanyl accountsfor the majority of synthetic opioid deaths, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reported, Pablo Escobar's "cocaine hippos" won't stop multiplying - so Colombia wants some gone, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants Feb. 25. All rights reserved. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The indictment alleges that from March 26 to June 9, Seibel, Pettit and others conspired to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Arellano Felix was extradited from Mexico in August 2012 to face US charges. 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. It also seeks the imposition of a money judgment in the amount of at least $1.4 million, the amount allegedly derived from the crimes charged in the indictment. District of New Mexico Photo Courtesy ICE. Tom Homan says number of illegal border crossings is unprecedented', White House insists border is closed despite massive migrant surge. 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. Despite early pandemic disruptions to the global drug trade, illegal substances have since been pouring into the U.S. the world's largest consumer of them. In keeping our community safe, I want to enlist their help by asking them to report anything out of the ordinary, suspicious behavior and domestic violence. Habilitation for Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, Medical Cannabis Personal Production Application, New Mexico Substance Use State Epidemiology Profile 2022 (August), New Mexico Substance Use State Epidemiology Profile 2021 (February), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2020-Q1), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2019-Q4), New Mexico Substance Use State Epidemiology Profile 2020 (January), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2019-Q3), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2019-Q2), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2019-Q1), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2018-Q4), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2018-Q3), New Mexico Substance Abuse State Epidemiology Profile 2018 (December), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2018-Q2), Prescription Drug Overdose in New Mexico (2018-Q1). Count 2 of the Indictment charges nine defendants with participating in an international money laundering conspiracy. In Dockerys residence, law enforcement located approximately 3,838.3 gross grams of fentanyl and 924.2 gross grams of methamphetamine allegedly belonging to the Seibel DTO. After fleeing, Verduzco-Ramirez left his nephew, Jimenez-Verduzco, in charge of the rings day-to-day operations but is still believed to be controlling operations from Mexico, prosecutors wrote in a motion to keep Jimenez-Verduzco in custody. Quintana-Arias manifest indicated his trailer contained auto body parts, but anomalies were detected in the trailer by both an X-ray machine and a drug-sniffing dog, according to the complaint. In many cases, drug couriers in the U.S. are recruited for one-off assignments to drive a shipment across the border in exchange for a lump sum payment based on how much product they are transporting, experts say.
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