", First published on December 2, 2021 / 10:11 AM. Undercover agents set up two buys from one of Romos associates, Saul Ramon Rivera Beltran, and purchased heroin, fentanyl and meth, according to the indictment. Nearly $8M worth of cocaine seized in TPS drug trafficking - CBC Andrew Cogliano out for Game 7 with fractured neck after Jordan Eberle's hit leaves Avalanche miffed at lack of suspension, Denver airport makes Food & Wine's list of top 10 U.S. airports with best restaurants, Celebration of life for Alexa Bartell, killed by rock thrown through windshield, draws hundreds to Arvada church, Skier killed in avalanche near Breckenridge, With Andrew Cogliano out for rest of Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kraken's Jordan Eberle discusses hit that fractured Cogliano's neck, Colorado lawmakers "belly flop" on water crisis, opting for further study of Colorado River over action, experts say, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. With a big bust like this one, there are almost always an array of charges involved. Investigators at a news conference Wednesday said they connected the weapons recovered at the houses with violent crimes, though the defendants are not charged with violent crimes. Authorities say there is no immediate threat to their safety. Had these pills reached the streets, thousands of unwitting end users would have been at significant risk of overdose and death. They'd covered the bust, but they were on to other things. In 2018, an average of nine Coloradans a month died of illicit fentanyl overdose. It was all about greed and making money, said David Olesky, acting special agent in charge of the Denver Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Polls show that two thirds of Americans favor recreational pot and around 80% favor medical marijuana. DENVER A woman who's accused of being the ringleader of a large drug ring operation in the Denver metro area has been charged as a kingpin, a charge rarely sought, federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon. More than $60,000 in cocaine seized from Edwards mobile home, Fentanyl-laced tablets linked to 8 overdoses in Northern Colorado, Activity must be a felony under federal drug laws, Activity must take place as a continuing series of violation, Must undertake the activity with five or more people, Defendant must as a supervisor or organizer or manager of the criminal enterprise, Must obtain substantial income or financial gain. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. First published on February 19, 2020 / 10:59 PM. Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who lives in Aurora, was charged as a federal drug kingpin. U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn, at the lectern, speaks with reporters Feb. 19, 2020 providing details of a massive drug bust involving Aurora suspects. Denver Health Officials Warn About Increase In Deadly Overdoses Linked You know, how can I work with this individual to get their story out there in a respectful, but also truthful way, to make sure that I wasn't getting spun as well? Denver residents can also get that medicine, along with fentanyl test strips, sent to them for free from the city. The reason for that is that one personally actually went on the lam and it took until 2019 to locate him in North Carolina and prompt extradite him back to Colorado. It's not as simple as walking down to the county clerk and getting a permit. 11 people now facing charges after months-long investigation involving police in Winnipeg, B.C. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Colorado was on board, but they wanted to wrap up all their court cases before revealing more information at the time. On that note, you mentioned that you knew early on that you wanted to speak with people on both sides you know, growing and distributing, and then on the law enforcement side. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who is in the U.S. illegally, was arrested at her home in Aurora last week and charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE), also known as drug kingpin charge. Police seize $8M in illegal drugs as part of massive bust in West After the indictment announcement, authorities said two others were arrested in connection to the drug trafficking ring. Most of the drugs came from Mexico and have a street value in the "millions of dollars," according to Dunn. RELATED: More than $60,000 in cocaine seized from Edwards mobile home. One of the questions that is raised in "The Syndicate" is about how the medical marijuana system can be gamed, like it was by thealleged ringleaderTri Nguyen. Drug ring busted in Larimer County as authorities seize pot, cocaine So, let's start from the standpoint of someone trying to start a large, illegal marijuana grow. By holding accountable the high-level organizers of this criminal enterprise and halting the spread of dangerous drugs, we can help save lives in Colorado. But there were limitations. But even if you were to do that, then this is returning the conversation again to states like California and, to some extent, Colorado. 64 indicted after drug trafficking bust in Colorado | 9news.com Would we have as much black market activity, and would a group like this have been able to pull off the feat they did, if we had just across-the-country legal cannabis? COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) - The North Metro Task Force made a large drug bust at an auto body shop in Commerce City. At a news conference on Wednesday, the District Attorney's Office for the 18th Judicial District announced the grand jury indictments of 19 people in connection with a drug-distribution ring. "This investigation demonstrates and corroborates the alarming trend in counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl flooding our streets, as well as the continuing nexus between drug trafficking and violent crime impacting our communities. That's just in the city of Denver alone. Here's an example. The state of Colorado expanded the program in 2008 and quickly registered so many caregivers that the state couldn't really monitor what each and every one of them was going. TORONTO - Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug . ------------------------------------------. Detectives with the Gore Range Narcotics Interdiction Team made the bust Tuesday. / CBS Colorado. of heroin and 15,000 fentanyl pills. / CBS Colorado. Officials on Wednesday said they linked the drugs to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico but didnt offer details on how they made the connection. Investigators said they used confidential informants, undercover agents, surveillance and phone taps to trace the movements of those involved and the drugs they were moving across state lines and around the Denver metro. Those in custody are being held on a $500,000 bond or greater. Could you talk some about that? Are other banks to follow? 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. SWAT Operation At Westminster Home: 2 Arrested In Drug Bust Some of those details did come out in the initial media coverage and press conference around the bust in 2015. For almost five years, the group had fooled regulators overseeing Colorado's medical marijuana industry by operating seemingly legitimate growhouses, all the while trafficking its harvests out of state using cars and skydiving planes. So, in Denver, there are over 600 cannabis cultivation facilities. So the idea of being a small "mom and pop" operation and starting from humble roots pardon the pun is just not feasible in many places. Of the 30 indicted,24 were arrested and one is in state custody on a separate charge. The Adams County SWAT team went into. Three people have been charged following a major bust at two residences in West Nipissing in which police seized illegal drugs with a street value of more than $8 million. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There's a lot of considerations that need to be carefully weighed to make sure we can slowly chip away at the black market. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. I had to make a lot of decisions about what was a fair way to portray certain situations. Fentanyl is an opioid known for its potency. I spent considerable time trying to get in touch with each and every person. They had paperwork that was official and signed by the state of Colorado. Noun 1. drug bust - seizure of illegal drugs by the police drugs bust impounding, impoundment, internment, poundage - placing private property in the. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia . Oct. Then approaching alleged members of this group was a whole other path that I had to go down. Eagle County Detectives Make Major Drug Bust Involving Coke, Meth And Magic Mushrooms September 3, 2021 / 3:46 PM / CBS Colorado EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Detectives pulled off a major drug. This is a part of the story that is told very differently depending on who you talk to. Posted: Feb 19, 2020 / 06:11 PM . Has Denver seen its last snow of the season? Requests spiked to 1,200 after investigators said fentanyl likely caused the deaths of five people in Commerce City. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. And then in conjunction with what I was saying earlier, too, they could establish their warehouse right next to the hundreds of legitimate ones that are spread throughout the city. The first batch of people were prosecuted by Weisers office and the 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office in Jefferson County, and two more series of indictments were filed in Adams County and are being prosecuted by the officers of Weiser and Mason. All are facing numerous charges for possession and distribution of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. The indictment outlines the extensive investigation by a coalition of Denver-area agencies working with the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area into the trafficking ring. The indictment does not mention the cartel, though it said Beltran received a call from a Mexican phone number and discussed drug dealing with the caller. Following a drug bust in Colorado this week where 110,000 counterfeit pills cut with fentanyl were seized, one Front Range District Attorney is calling for revised laws surrounding the drug. They figured out pretty much every person who was involved in it for a span of four years. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Police seized fentanyl, meth, firearms, and more than $5,000. 2020 / 07:49 PM MDT. Copyright 2023 Salon.com, LLC. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Mills has gone before a judge and bond was set. Weiser, Mason and Reuter lauded the local, state and federal partnership that they said was key to bringing down the organization and helping curb the ongoing increase in fentanyl trafficking and overdose deaths, which have risen sharply in the past few years in Colorado. Following Colorado drug bust, DA calls for harsher laws surrounding Are other banks to follow? Provisional data from 2021 indicates that fentanyl is present in nearly 50% of all accidental drug-related deaths in Denver, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. In that same time frame, deadly overdoses increased by 22%. Authorities and public health institutions point to the proliferation of illicit fentanyl an extremely potent synthetic opioid often disguised as prescription pills as a major contributor to the increased deaths in Colorado. The find was part of a coordinated Aurora drug bust announced Feb. 19, 2020. He confessed to police everything he knew about Nguyen's operation, overturning the largest pot smuggling drug ring in Colorado since legalization. In 2015, Joe was caught with $374,000, a gun, and 66 pounds of marijuana. How much of that was present in the initial media coverage surrounding "The Syndicate" drug bust? Then on the law enforcement side, it's like, "Oh, well, this is absolutely justified because these people are so dangerous.". DENVER Twenty-one people have been charged in Colorado for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring linked to a Mexican cartel, according to law enforcement officials. "With 28 firearms seized, multiple hand grenades, high-capacity magazines and several sets of body armor, this organization was preparing for battle," Olesky said during Wednesday's news conference. I mean, it was the largest pot bust in Colorado since the state had legalized recreational weed in 2012. To be considered a drug kingpin, the individual has to violate the Controlled Substances Act as part of a series of related or ongoing violations. In his new podcast "The Syndicate," journalist Chris Walker goes beyond some of the case's flashy details, speaking to both the members of the criminal organization and the law enforcement agents who took them down, and uncovers how the push for legal marijuana in some states actually drives up black market demand nationally. Police said Wednesday they had seized nearly $11.6 million in cash, proceeds of crime and assets . In total, investigators and law enforcement recovered 77,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained varying amounts of fentanyl. So, all of which to say, federal legalization is a step towards combating some of these problems, but it's a long road ahead. An eight-month investigation into a drug trafficking ring based in metro Denver led law enforcement to seize 110,000 fentanyl pills, 13 pounds of meth, 8 pounds of heroin, 24 pounds of cocaine. Thats why addressing this crisis is a top priority for our office, Weiser said in a statement. You can get naloxone for free from StoptheClockColorado.org. 64 indicted in Colorado drug trafficking, money laundering bust - KMGH There are some states that just don't have a legal market, so by definition, the only place where you can buy cannabis in those states is "the black market.". (CBS4) - The U.S. Department of Justice says a drug strike force dismantled a major drug dealing operation which was working in Denver and Aurora. New episodes of "The Syndicate" debut every Tuesday. Officers found more than $760,000 worth of drugs. That included nearly 35 pounds of meth, nearly 10 pounds of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. Last year, 540 Coloradans died of fentanyl overdoses. IRS Special Agent in Charge Amanda Prestegard said, Its crucially important to include a financial component in investigation of drug related crime. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It was a fairly impressive investigation. Officers found more . When it started, they had about ten requests for supplies a month. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. Keeler: Chris Paul got dirty. They also found four firearms, two of them stolen. Under the caregiving program, they could grow up to 500 plants. The Denver DEAs Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force led the investigation in partnership with Arvada police. If convicted as a drug kingpin, she faces 20 years to life in federal prison. It sounds like a movie. We're seeing multimillion dollar bidding wars for the limited licenses that come up in the new markets. The indictment comes as drug overdose death rates in Colorado have risen to a horrific high. I mean, I do some editorializing at the end of this show. Ashlie D. Stevens is Salon's deputy food editor. RCMP arrest 14 people, seize 'significant quantity of drugs, firearms and cash' in major drug trafficking bust. DENVER Sixty-four people have been charged in Colorado for their alleged involvement in what officials called an international trafficking and money laundering ring that dealt with fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and firearms, according to law enforcement officials. You can listen to the first three episodes hereor listen in the player below. Authorities seize drugs, 17 guns and $44,000 cash in Larimer County drug ring bust. Please enter valid email address to continue. Had these pills reached the streets, thousands of unwitting end users wouldve been at significant risk of overdose and death as weve seen too much of already in Colorado, Dunn said. DPS says it has plenty of mental health professionals after school board directive to add more, Wyoming won't give wolves to Colorado; CPW doesn't know where it will get them, Isolated storms Tuesday; 70s here to stay. So in many states, including Colorado where this story is based, they've actually handed down a lot of control over the cannabis industry to local municipalities and cities. (CBC) In a news release, Toronto police describe a. North Metro Task Force Busts Auto Shop For Alleged Drug Sales Ontario Provincial Police unveiled details of the investigation and a display of the evidence seized during operation DAYTONA in Ottawa Thursday Jan 30, 2020. Moreover, it would answer this main question in my mind, "If Colorado had a seemingly thriving legal market, why would you take risks to set up this massive black market operation?". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Colorado communities and families have suffered greatly from the opioid epidemicand that impact is getting worse during this pandemic. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of overdose deaths in Colorado involving fentanyl more than doubled, from 222 to 540. DENVER (CBS4) - The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver metro area. DENVER - Sixty-four people have been charged in Colorado for their alleged involvement in what officials called an international trafficking and money laundering ring that dealt with fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and firearms, according to law enforcement officials. Colorado law enforcement officials on Wednesday announced the indictment by the 18th Judicial District grand jury of 19 people on 20 felonies in connection to the multi-state drug trafficking ring. They also took out paraphernalia consistent with illegal narcotic sales, a sawed-off shotgun and $9,434 in cash. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month . Woman charged as federal 'kingpin' in major metro Denver-wide drug bust by: . Additionally, the defendant must be an organizer, supervisor or manager of at least five other persons connected in the same activity, and obtain substantial income or resources from the series of violations, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn said. Denver-based drug cartel busted | 9news.com "Overdoses caused by fentanyl can happen faster and are harder to stop than those caused by other opioids," DDPHE said. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. In addition to the drugs and weapons that were recovered, the investigation also dug up an alleged money laundering operating that sent money back and forth to Mexico from Adams County, Colorado Springs and the Denver area. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month . 20 people charged, $61M worth of drugs seized in largest bust in RELATED: Big Denver Drug Bust: Dealer Allegedly Had Nearly 10,000 Fentanyl Pills, 179 Pounds Of Meth. Public health officials advise anyone who uses substances or knows someone who uses substances to not only share this warning but to also take tangible steps to help prevent deaths. Authorities arrested five people in connection with an alleged . Mills was arrested at the Race Street location. Then there is state involvement as well. Colorado Springs Police Find Nearly 35 Pounds Of Meth, 10 Pounds Of However, the drug ring's alleged leader -- Rivera-Beltran -- is being held in Arapahoe County on a $1M cash-only bond. N.S. March 11, 2022 / 2:51 PM document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. Peel saw 191 fatal drug overdoses in 2021 -- up from. Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. September 3, 2021 / 3:46 PM Federal indictments that were unsealed Wednesday name 30 defendants at least 24 have been arrested for their roles in two separate drug organizations that were involved in weekly high volume narcotics trafficking, according to Phillips. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. DeAngelo was booked on 23 charges related to drugs, violating bond and unlawful possession of a weapon. According to the three and information from the attorney generals office, the 64 people who have been charged saw Colorado Statewide Grand Jury indictments against them returned between October 2019 and Thursday. You some, some people didn't want to talk about this, some people believe they were subjected to overzealous law enforcement and some people, you know, wanted to just sort of address the errors of their pasts and express remorse for what they had done. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Law enforcement identified the shop as Supreme Auto Body which was not. OPP Project Daytona nets 12 arrests in major Eastern Ontario drug bust I cannot overstate how dangerous that was to the community. Agents said Colorado communities are safer now with the seized drugs and weapons off the streets, but the work is far from over. Malik Beasley. They seized almost a pound and a half of suspected cocaine, a slightly larger amount of a substance believed to be meth, more than a quarter of a pound of suspected ketamine, 32 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 60 tabs of LSD, 36 pills of Xanax and 53 Ritalin pills. Dunn also noted that most of the seized fentanyl pills were disguised to look like oxycodone. 'This Organization Was Preparing For Battle': Colorado Authorities Some of the people discussed working with people in Mexico to source the purchases, according to the indictment. Milinovich said as of July 31, Peel Region has seen 71 overdose-related deaths, 80 per cent of which are suspected to be linked to opioids. EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Detectives pulled off a major drug bust in the Eagle Vail area, arresting Matthew DeAngelo at a home. What are some of the policy issues that you're hoping people maybe do consider if they're listening to "The Syndicate"? "I cannot overstate how dangerous that was to the community," Dunn said. 1,143 grams of cocaine 2,931 grams of synthetic cannabis 1 litre of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) $60,010 cash Eight people have been charged and more than a quarter million dollars in drugs and cash. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "This investigation is not about the amount of drugs seized or number of people arrested," said Olesky. Four others are in Mexico and one is at large in the U.S. The drug ring was in operation as early as July 2015. Whenever we take drugs off of our streets, we make our community a safer place in which to live, Mason said in a statement. Cash, guns and several vehicles were also seized, according to Phillips. 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DEA Denver Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky said a year ago, a large seizure would have been anywhere from 5,000-10,000 . Vallejo-Gallo is a Mexican national in the country unlawfully, who has been charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise which is also known as a drug kingpin charge. This effort is an excellent example of what we accomplish through ongoing collaboration in our state.. You were living in Colorado when the major drug bust happened, right? This has happened in Canada, for instance, where there are jurisdictions with just no pot shops, so everyone in that jurisdiction who wants to buy weed has to get it from a black market dealer, right? Updated: Feb 19, 2020 / 06:11 PM MST. 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The charges were announced Friday by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. 21 charged in Cartel-linked drug distribution ring in Colorado - KMGH "But, unfortunately here in Colorado, the numbers are higher at a 46% increase of drug overdose deaths," Keith Weis, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain HIDTA, said. Legalizing weed nationally is just not going to solve the problem overnight. This organization was preparing for a battle, Olesky said. So I approached the state and say, "Hey, I can tell you spent a lot of resources and time on this investigation, and I want to help you spotlight the work that you did, and also find out what this says about the black market.". That's a whole other set of issues. It was a collection of all these college friends and their family members that came from Minnesota to Colorado to hide undercover in the legal market. Right. Drug kingpins dont always touch the drugs but they do always touch the money..
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