Have a concern or an opinion about this story? Chavez was last arrested in 2016 on several violent felonies, including. It really gives off a strong odor.. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); 1. A detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. New Mexico Bookings. All rights reserved. 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. Marshals Office, DEA, and local law enforcement agencies made 100 arrests in a week. 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 . Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. The drugs found included 8,810 pounds of fentanyl and 13,216 pounds of heroin. Marshal in El Paso, Vigil said he is aware of how drug cartels are impacting the region. Gun safe storage bill inches closer to governor's desk Republicans express concern over high-profile measure Republicans express concern over high-profile measure during Fridays two-hour debate. Bryan Llenas reports on the attorney general's efforts on 'Special Reports'. googletag.cmd.push(function() { of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. . Mexican Authorities Make Massive Drug Busts Worth Billions. 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 . Want the news delivered straight to your inbox? Toronto police announce 'staggering' $61 million cross-Canada drug bust Police on Tuesday announced the seizure of 444 kg of cocaine, 182 kg of crystal meth, 427 kg of marijuana, 300 oxycodone . More than 17,500 pounds (7,930 kilograms) of meth and 389 pounds (176 kilograms) of fentanyl were discovered last Thursday hidden inside a tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in [] 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,. 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,. 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. Theyre asking anyone who knows where he is, to call the police. Dona Ana . The main target of this operation was the transportation infrastructure of the Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, Gonzales said. 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. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. 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 You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Chavezs father, Dennis Chavez, declined to comment on the charges against his son. In short, drug prohibition creates drug kingpins. Declaration began March 11, 2020, and NM is one of five states that still have such orders. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 24. 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. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. 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. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); 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. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; Bridget Archuleta Counts 1, 4, 11 and 12. Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people Nearly 30 charged in drug trafficking ring operating in Pa. counties 28 lbs. So, prohibition works to decrease small illegal drug sellers and to keep the biggest cartels on top. So far this year, there have been about 250 people murdered in the city. , Memorial, memes honor ABQs fallen Iron Man statue, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. The bust has an estimated street value of approximately $800 million. Per page 1; 2; 3 > Michael Guzman. 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. U.S. Customs and Border Protection made a record-breaking seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine on Thursday, busting a Mexican citizen who was trying to haul the drugs into to the U.S. inside a truck, authorities said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, In addition, decreasing the supply of illegal drugs functions primarily to increase the cost that consumers pay which with illegal drugs means that one of the prices they pay is in increased health risk by having a heavily diluted and unsafe drug supply. Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's San Diego field office announced this week that the total amount of narcotics seized at Southern . In an unrelated bust, 39 people were charged as being part of a distribution ring based out of El Paso, Texas and Chaparral, N.M., Gonzales said. 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. American officials say illicit fentanyl from labs in Mexico is driving a surge in overdose deaths. Mexican law enforcement officials made four major drug busts in recent days which yielded over 120,000 lbs. AG Sessions vows to eradicate MS-13 gang violence, Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years. In the past 20 years in. April has been a relatively peaceful month so far in Juarez. (Google Maps). Michael Guzman. 3 Mar. }); Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found a combined $61 million worth of methamphetamine and marijuana on Aug. 7, in two separate shipments of cactus and lime from Mexico at the Otay Mesa border crossing. Read More. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A diplomatic row has frozen U.S.-Mexican efforts to target drug cartels. Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020. Guzman once ran a major heroin and methamphetamine operation throughout the southwest. ROSWELL, N.M.(KRQE) Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Will there be a brighter ending to this legislative session? 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. Click Share This Page button to display social media links. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta allegedly participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. This figure is less than half of the 71 homicides for all of the month of March. 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. This was not the only huge meth seizure in the region. of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal. Some of the drugs were headed to the US, Gallo said Sunday. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court: Officers served a warrant around 4 p.m. at Chavezs home in the 500 block of Madeira SE, near Zuni and San Mateo, and detained Chavez. 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. Jose Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He allegedly received supplies of cocaine from Jose and Natalie Mendoza, converted it to crack cocaine, and distributed it by the ounce to customers, including an undercover agent posing as a lower level drug trafficker. The . The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. The individual was booked into the Hidalgo County Jail pending criminal prosecution. 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. $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment. 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. U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales on Thursday announced federal A 29-year-old who posed as a food delivery driver and tried to smuggle illegal opioids into an Adelaide medi-hotel has . Assistant U.S. It is important to note that an arrest or criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered evidence of guilt. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Official websites use .gov $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof. So, one of the costs of prohibition is death of the consumer. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. Officials believe the drugs were brought into the U.S. from nearby Ciudad Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso. Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Mexican Army conducted the second and third drug busts on August 17 and 18 in Baja California, seizing approximately 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in a remote area known as the San Fernando Canyon, according to a report from Breitbart Texas. An official website of the United States government. Counts 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 charge certain defendants with use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Date: 3/3 8:39 pm. Market data provided by Factset. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Ryan Rodriguez allegedly acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor. NIANTIC, Conn. In a massive drug enforcement operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), more than 100 individuals were arrested early Wednesday in five states and Puerto Rico on state and federal charges related to the large-scale trafficking of heroin and cocaine from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico into and around . Among the individuals apprehended at the border some have prior criminal offenses or active warrants for aggravated assault offenses. 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. ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. Police also seized 24 firearms, $102,000 in cash and three vehicles. According to public court records, Jose Mendoza, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, allegedly were high-level suppliers of cocaine in the Espanola Valley of New Mexico. February 16, 2023. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. So what we have to do to make sure that these people dont continue to act and degrade the community here and our quality of life is we bring in our federal partners, said Roswell Police Chief Philip Smith. (Photos: Hall County Sheriff's Office) (Photos: Hall County Sheriff's Office) Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; More Info. 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. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants Feb. 25. Count 3 charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. 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. Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Manuel Varela. Nineteen suspected members of the ring were arrested. 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. 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. A trucker from Mexico was arrested after trying to smuggle record-breaking amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the U.S., federal prosecutors said. or redistributed. googletag.cmd.push(function() { Amazon opening three San Antonio facilities. SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. Border Patrol Agents In New Mexico Make Drug Bust and Arrest Aggravated Felon. Baby wipes seized at Mexico border turns out to be $11.8M in cocaine. 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. 2. Count 3 of the indictment charges certain defendants with distribution of cocaine base. Federal officials said Ramon Reyes-Mesa may have already fled to Mexico. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel. 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. 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 . 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. Overwhelming most illegal drugs get through. 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. Nov 18, 2022 Over half a million dollars in fentanyl, cocaine, meth seized at Texas-Mexico border U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted $578,456 worth of fentanyl, cocaine, and. Man who tried to smuggle drugs into medi-hotel asks to be spared prison. Were going to make sure that youre always looking over your shoulder, Vigil said about dangerous Mexican drug cartels making their way into Texas. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. 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. googletag.enableServices(); The arrests underscore the tough stance law enforcement officials are now taking when dealing with Mexican drug cartels and street gangs. Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. Sergio Ruiz was sentenced to 240 months in prison. Aug 4, 2021. 7:19 AM EST March 7, 2020 35 people were arrested earlier this week after a drug distribution investigation between police departments and officials in New Hampshire and Maine. Natalie Mendoza Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12. 4. 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. 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.