Authorities also recovered 10 guns during the investigation, which began in January 2019. "These are usually going into the hands of our teenagers and our younger adults out there, so anytime you can get a good arrest like this, any hit that we can make that takes this out of the hands of the kids, that's great," Spayth said. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. PDF Substance Use and Mental Disorders in the Denver-Aurora - SAMHSA PHOTO BY QUINCY SNOWDON/Sentinel Colorado. I called this press conference because behind the scenes there is aggressive and tenacious police work and prosecution being done to save lives and bring justice," Besser said. The investigation that turned into a joint wiretap probe with the 18th Judicial District, DEA, Arapahoe County and Denver police began in December 2021, Kellner said. A Baghdad alum, she has 4 grown children and lives with her husband and her mom. Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you. Read More. Stories About Drug Bust - CBS Colorado Investigators part of the North Metro Task Force Drug Task Force says more than 40,000 Fentanyl pills and 20 pounds of cocaine were seized. Authorities seized 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 15,000 fentanyl pills, 5 pounds of heroin and 4 pounds of cocaine during the sweeping arrests last week, Dunn said. In the latest bust, authorities seized 170,000 fentanyl pills outside of an Aurora apartment. It starts with a small case that can be built into something meaningful, Kellner said. March 11, 2022 / 7:35 PM - 7 pounds heroin and 7 pounds crack for the State of Colorado (19.3 percent) but is higher than the national rate (14.7 percent) (Figure 1). APD makes several arrests in Social Media Drug Operation. State and federal authorities confiscated 200,000 fentanyl pills, 9.4 pounds of heroin, a kilogram of cocaine and multiple firearms in an operation they say culminated in one of the largest seizures of fentanyl pills in Colorado history. In an effort to beef up hiring numbers, the city is reforming its hiring practices by adopting more relaxed standards. AURORA, Colo. A 24-year-old man was arrested on drug charges late last month after a four-month investigation. Angelina Maestas posted court documents on Facebook that openly accused another member of the trafficking operation with cooperating with police. The Aurora residence was on the 12100 block of Amherst Circle. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The Albuquerque Police Department is trying to get to the root of the problem when it comes to violent crime . More than 900 people died of fentanyl overdoses in Colorado last year, according to the state health department. Kellner acknowledged that stopping this operation will only put a temporary pause on business. 64 people indicted in huge Colorado drug trafficking bust Another six people were also charged as a result of a year-long investigation: four members of the alleged ring who remain at large in Mexico, one who remains at large in the United States and one individual who is in state custody, Dunn said. On Tuesday, a local mail sorting center contacted police after co While conducting a series of arrests across Denver and Aurora Feb. 12, officials also seized large amounts of cash, cars and at least 10 guns, many of which were assault rifles, Phillips said. Dean Narciso The Columbus Dispatch 0:00 1:38 The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office announced late Friday afternoon the indictments of 79 people and the seizure of nearly $6 million in drugs in. 9Wants to Know saw members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Aurora Police Department at two locations in Aurora, one was a home, the other a business, in the Mississippi and I-225 area. Safford PD makes meth bust at local hotel - GilaValleyCentral.Net Catherine Brooke Harrell, 28, was arrested for prostitution, felony possession of heroin and . Officials said kids are buying drugs with emojis and text messages and they can do it anonymously. Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney John Kellner said at a press conference in the south Denver suburb of Centennial on Wednesday that across both cases in addition to the 200,000 fentanyl pills, officials found four guns, 9.4 pounds of heroin, 1 kilogram of cocaine and $60,000 in stolen merchandise. EVANSVILLE, Ind. for top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. The Theyre here. Fentanyl pills collected in the April and February seizures had the potential to kill as many as 100,000 people in Colorado, Besser said. A 19-year-old Arizona man is under arrest in Colorado's high country after authorities found large amounts of drugs in his car. Enormous I-80 Drug Seizure At Joliet Exit: Sheriff "The Boss" performed in Colorado as part of his Springsteen E Street Band 2023 Tour and also surprised a Denver store owner a few hours before the show. Recently passed legislation is working to change things, however. Drug dealers are now resorting to innovative methods to flood the market with fentanyl-related substances so they can have maximum appeal to unsuspecting users, Besser said. Food Bank of the Rockies says statewide, that's about $53 million to $55 million less per month. Officials says 30 people were indicted. AURORA | Federal authorities on Wednesday unsealed a 30-person indictment that outlines the workings of a sophisticated drug cartel that for years was pumping hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine throughout Colorado. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. Jared Polis has endorsed the proposal to change the name of Mount Evans in a letter to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names. Two people got caught with an illegal psilocybin mushroom grow and other drugs in a Lyons home. Cold case: Who murdered this man on Lookout Mountain? Yates is Pierce's sister. The officers were conducting surveillance on the suspect and knew he had a felony warrant out for his arrest. 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The four weapons seized included an AR-15-style rifle and a 9 mm handgun, authorities said. FBI Chicago October 04, 2011. As first reported by The Denver Gazette, the largest U.S. highway seizure of pure fentanyl powder occurred June 20 on Interstate 70 near Georgetown. The case involves a wiretap investigation that began in December and also netted $60,000 in stolen merchandise. Published: Jun. Ive never seen anything like this. In one shipment recovered by authorities, drugs were hidden in a childs backpack and mailed through UPS to a woman in the ring who had children, Dunn said. At approximately 5:20 p.m. Saturday, NSP was informed that the Burt County Sheriff's Office and Lyons Police Department were on the scene of an armed, barricaded subject at 100 State Street in Lyons. iTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunes Google Play:http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n, HOW TO ADD THE FREE 9NEWS+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE. Besser said a lot of drugs pass through Denver because of its central location, but he stressed that not everything is gloom and doom. Four arrested following large-scale drug bust in Adams County Mills has gone before a judge and bond was set. First published on March 11, 2022 / 7:35 PM. They also confiscated 9.4 pounds of heroin, a 2.2 pounds of cocaine, four guns including an AR-15. (WEHT) Five people were put behind bars in Evansville after a suspicious package led to a large drug bust. Deputies found 274 marijuana plants and 60 pounds of packaged pot in an illegal grow operation. Aurora Police said the investigation began in September after their narcotics. Ever., 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), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills declared one of largest ever in Colorado, Woman attempted 4 carjackings in 9 minutes, Denver police say. Gov. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis, Besser said. A months-long investigation in Colorado Springs ended with the arrest of William Johns on Aug. 4. So it was essentially meant to throw off anyone who might have seen that, Dunn said. During the same time, another defendant, Rodrigo Mora-Sanchez, made 33 cash deposits totaling more than $600,000. Another option for Fire TV is to have the appdelivered directly to your Fire TVthrough Amazon. Come Wednesday, families will be receiving their SNAP benefits without the additional emergency allotments they've been getting for the last three years. 29 pounds of methamphetamine, $57,000 in cash, and a Taurus 9mm semi . 5 dead, baby found alive at suspected drug party in Colorado Cant take statins? 21, 2022 at 1:05 PM PDT. About 170,000 pills were seized in April from a vehicle outside an apartment complex in Aurora. Most street users will not purposely want to take fentanyl some do, but for the most part they dont, because of how serious it is, how its so hard to dose because a microscopic amount can be fatal and theyre fearful of that, he said. This represents 21.0 percent of the MSA population, which is similar to the rate . 9 arrested in cocaine, meth bust in Aurora | 9news.com ", RELATED: Denver Health Officials Warn About Increase In Deadly Overdoses Linked To Fentanyl. Although drug runners were taken off of the streets, their positions will be refilled soon enough. We can help you keep up. There are about 6 million people living in Colorado.Editor's Note: A previous version of the story said the amount of fentanyl seized could kill as many as 25 million people. The Adams County Sheriff's Office says they were part of a large task force which took down a massive drug bust. Police executed a search warrant at Ramirez's house located in the 20500 block of East Buchanan Drive on Dec. 29, APD said. The identity of the cars driver is being kept secret to protect his family from retribution from drug cartels. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Colorado law enforcement officials said Wednesday that millions of lives may have been saved after several months of undercover investigation into those suspected of distributing illegal fentanyl pills. The Colorado State Patrol discovered the 114-pound mega-haul hidden underneath a trap door beneath the front seats of a vehicle during a traffic stop. The fentanyl flooding Colorado this summer is cheaper, now comes in pink and white, and is sometimes laced with the taste of monk fruit. The latest reports from Denver Water show our snowpacks rounding towards their state averages already, and there are still two months of snow to go. Deputies conducting a routine traffic stop in Adams County took one person into custody after finding methamphetamine, fentanyl, and stacks of cash in the car. Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Gregory Thomas, Chief of the Aurora Police Department (APD), announced today the arrest of three individuals for violation . In 2021, she decided to return to local news. PDF Colorado Drug Threat Assessment - United States Department of Justice Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Three Arrested in Aurora Drug Sweep. The remaining indictees are on the lam across U.S. and Mexico. ROKU: add the channel from theROKU storeor by searching for KUSA. She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Greeley Police arrested a 26-year-old man for reportedly selling large amounts of illegal drugs in the area. One Colorado school district is making mental health a priority. Residential rent analysis company, Rentometer, found other double-digit spikes around Colorado from 2021 to 2022 rent increased 15% in Aurora, 13% in Boulder, and shot up 18% in Fort Collins. Largest Database of Colorado Mugshots. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app, Players given Kratom by Colorado coach, police say, Skier Shiffrin's quest for 86th win extended after downhill, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, Cellphone data connected man to teen's overdose death, 'So much needless loss': DEA agent hopes to reduce fentanyl-related deaths, Man arrested in teen's fentanyl overdose death in Loveland, Distribution of a controlled substance - fentanyl 4-50 grams, Attempt to distribute a controlled substance - fentanyl 4-50 grams, Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute - fentanyl 4 grams, Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute - schedule 3/4. Police in Arvada got quite a surprise while conducting a search warrant for narcotics distribution. An Aurora woman led an extensive international drug trafficking organization that distributed high volumes of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl throughout Colorado, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn said at a news conference Wednesday. Because of its central location, Colorado is now a critical trans-shipment hub in the West for drug smugglers, officials warned, and the price has become right. The fentanyl pills recovered by authorities were packaged and disguised to look like prescription drugs a tactic used to make the drugs more appealing to users, Dunn said. The 45-count indictment exposes the inner workings of a Mexican drug gang that was based at a market in Aurora and distributed drugs - mostly cocaine and methamphetamine - throughout the region. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies engage in largest However, groups like Vallejo-Gallos are increasingly manufacturing the potent opioid to bump their profit margins by camouflaging it as more sought-after and expensive prescription pills. Illicit Drug Use. In an unrelated traffic stop of a vehicle headed toward Tulsa, Oklahoma, on I-70 in February, 30,000 fentanyl pills were collected. In the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield MSA, an annual average of 416,000 persons aged 12 or older used any . Aurora man indicted for meth conspiracy - OzarksFirst.com Suspicious mail leads to large drug bust in Evansville COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Police in Colorado Springs made a major drug bust and believe they have their prime suspect in custody. Aurora police find copious amount of drugs during traffic stop The influx of fake prescription opioids is a growing and deadly concern for this office and the law enforcement community as a whole, he said. Large fentanyl bust made in northeast Aurora | 9news.com If convicted Vallejo-Gallo could face 20 years to life in federal prison. Colorado Drug Bust: Heroin, Cocaine & Fentanyl Found Phoenix Man's Car A 19-year-old Arizona man is under arrest in Colorado's high country after authorities found large amounts of drugs in. News FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation Aurora Police said the investigation began in September after their narcotics team received a tip that Hernan Soria Ramirez was advertising illegal drugs for sale on social media sites. Colorado Drug Threat Assessment 2 Colorado's well-developed transportation infra - structure and its central location in the western United States are ideal for the movement of licit and illicit goods into and through the state. Body cam video shows a handcuffed suspect being thrown to ground by an Aurora police officer. Massive drug sting: 800 arrested, 2 tons of meth, 8 tons of - KKTV A 40-year Colorado news veteran, Carol McKinley started in radio, and traveled the world as a network TV correspondent/producer. The indictment claims that a person named Julian Green was the "leader and supervisor" of the operation. Fentanyl pills are extremely cheap right now, officials said Wednesday. On Wednesday, Besser, the sheriffs in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, Denver police andJohn Kellner, the district attorney for Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, announced their latest in a string of fentanyl busts, almost apologizing that fentanyl news is getting so commonplace that theyre afraid people have stopped paying attention. Prosecutor: 79 indicted in Ohio drug bust, more than $5 million of Every single bust, and I hate to use that term, is making a substantive community impact on the life-saving front, Besser said. Those 11 people are included in a federal indictment that was released later on Tuesday. Get content and information right now for cant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox. During the search, authorities uncovered approximately 8.23 pounds of heroin, 4.45 pounds of methamphetamine, and $108,000 in drug money. Arthur Mills, 59, was arrested on Thursday, according to the Denver Police Department. "They have a bunch of Alprazolam (Xanax) and oxycodone in with other peoples names on, the thing wrapped up in money sock full of money," an officer can be heard saying on bodycam video. FBI Three Arrested in Aurora Drug Sweep

, Players given Kratom by Colorado coach, police say, Skier Shiffrin's quest for 86th win extended after downhill, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days. Law enforcement hasnt yet arrested the original dealer, believed to be in Mexico, who coordinated with the group. According to the documents, some of the drugs sold by Tapia-Rubio were brought in from Mexico, via California. The Colorado State Patrol reported that it has seized 225 pounds of fentanyl through the first half of this year, compared to 150 pounds in 2021. Law enforcement officials said cartels have designed the latest batches to be attractive to young people, with one official comparing their creativity to Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavors. Law enforcement officers made a number of arrests recently in connection to drug trafficking in Rifle and the greater Garfield County area. Anyone who has a tip related to illegal drug dealing in Denver can share it with police through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Dunn and Phillips praised the collaborative effort among a variety of federal agencies that helped to build the criminal case against the trafficking groups and to arrest two dozen alleged members. Wanted Collection FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 43 pounds cocaine They're sold in the Denver area wholesale for $3 a pill or retail for $10 to $20, investigators say. There is an unindicted co-conspirator that we are yet to identify as the primary source that would coordinate with this drug trafficking ring, Kellner said. Carly McKinney's Twitter page contained half-naked photos and all kinds of chatter about marijuana, including a boast of . Several of the suspects appeared in federal custody hearings Feb. 19. Because of Thursday's law enforcement. What do you think. APD estimated the drugs' street value at more than $200,000. Gov. Authorities: Major drug bust in Denver shows - The Center Square Sign up here and we will see you in the morning! The availability and accessibility of fake pills (laced with fentanyl) right now is absolutely staggering. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Colorado Arrests and Inmate Search But make no mistake: In this case, my understanding is the drugs here were actually bound for Colorado.