Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you. Yates is Pierce's sister. 21, 2022 at 1:05 PM PDT. Drug-related treatment admissions in Colorado are at relatively high levels. In the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield MSA, an annual average of 416,000 persons aged 12 or older used any . Illicit Drug Use. The group brought drugs into Colorado from Mexico and the West Coast, authorities said. Subscribe to ourdaily 9NEWSLETTERfor top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. (WLBT) - Two people were arrested for having possession of over $200,000 in drugs, along with a few firearms, In Hinds County on Wednesday, January 25. Should Denver open a safe drug use site? 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. 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.. 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 Colorado legislature may finally let it. Law enforcement officers made a number of arrests recently in connection to drug trafficking in Rifle and the greater Garfield County area. Example video title will go here for this video. SAFFORD Safford Police arrested a man who reportedly admitted to having an estimated 40 grams of methamphetamine for "personal use.". Authorities have also seized $16 million in drug money. 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). Ramirez posted bond on Dec. 30. The find was part of a coordinated Aurora drug bust announced Feb. 19, 2020. Authorities also recovered 10 guns during the investigation, which began in January 2019. That number was nationwide. DENVER (CBS4) - Denver police announced on Friday that they found a large supply of various illegal drugs at two homes in the Denver metro area and arrested a 59-year-old man who was allegedly planning to deal them. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. All rights reserved. FBI identifies Aurora woman as suspected kingpin of Mexican drug ring busted in metro area U.S. Attorney photo Authorities seized 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 15,000 fentanyl pills, five pounds. Investigators say 12 people, most of whom were already in jail on unrelated charges prior to the drug ring investigation, were able to sneak narcotics into the jail with mail. University of Denver students are calling out campus leaders to halt a controversial speaker stepping foot on campus. As of March 31 in Colorado, a total of about 1.1 million fentanyl pills have been collected although DEA Special Agent Brian Besser said he believes that number has doubled since three months ago. (KKTV) - A massive investigation resulted in 800 arrests, the seizures of more than eight tons of cocaine; 22 tons of marijuana; and 2 tons . DENVER Special agents, police officers and deputy sheriffs on Thursday arrested 80 people on drug and/or gun charges, announced the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado. They're sold in the Denver area wholesale for $3 a pill or retail for $10 to $20, investigators say. Former Washington Capital forward Lars Eller is now a member of the Colorado Avalanche! 4:00 PM 01/29/2013 - A 23-year-old math teacher at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado is in a heap of trouble after a local television station publicized the bawdy but awesome contents of her Twitter account. Special Agent Garrett Croon (312) 829-1199. A routine traffic stop in Eagle County led to the discovery of 13.5 pounds of what is believed to be heroin hidden in a child's car seat. Catherine Brooke Harrell, 28, was arrested for prostitution, felony possession of heroin and . He is listed as the owner of El Rancho Market, also raided on Thursday. The Denver Police Department is launching a new program they say will help them curb crime throughout the city by starting with tracking some cars. Police shared the following details about the large amount of drugs that were captured: - 179 pounds methamphetamines - 43 pounds. Denver Restaurant Week is officially upon us! After another large bust, drug enforcement officials warn the public not to get weary of fentanyl news, Hondu Multiservicios, LLC at 6671 Federal Boulevard, according to the grand jury indictment obtained by The Gazette, Report: Reliever Brad Hand signs with Colorado Rockies, Jamal Murray's big second half serves as last laugh vs. old friend and Memphis Grizzlies, National park in Colorado ranks 4th most-visited nationwide, others rank much lower, Locals concerned about possibility of Colorado's 43rd state park, COLUMN: Pandemics bureaucrats betrayed our trust | Jimmy Sengenberger, EDITORIAL: Legislators want local heroin injection sites, Brewers' Bracket: Vote for your favorite Denver or Front Range brewery, DENVER GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Politics and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get the news that matters most delivered to your inbox, Colorado's fentanyl crisis: Full coverage, Alleged driver of record fentanyl haul in Colorado is MIA, Class-action suit filed against parental evaluator who said he disbelieves 90% of domestic violence allegations, Wine sales in Colorado grocery, convenience stores begin this week, In search of fairness: Tug-of-war between jury inclusiveness and juror impartiality reaches Colorado Supreme Court, Rent control bill heads to Colorado Senate with uncertain future, Colorado legislators kill 'fair workweek' bill requiring payment to workers for 'show-up time'. At least two of those charged were in the United States illegally, according to a 52-count indictment filed in Colorado District Court. The civil forfeiture documents filed in federal court in Colorado name 14 people and mention there are others involved in bringing cocaine and meth from Mexico to Colorado. According. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver area. But it is also very cheap to produce either in China or Mexico. The Aurora Police Department received information about narcotics . #4 Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. "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. Its also very cheap to produce in either China or Mexico, Dunn said. A proposed bill in the state legislature would raise the minimum age for purchasing a firearm in Colorado from 18 to 21, if passed into law. The arrests were made by over 500 law enforcement officers, making this the largest drug bust in Denver history. iTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunes Google Play:http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n, HOW TO ADD THE FREE 9NEWS+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE. Fentanyl pills are extremely cheap right now, officials said Wednesday. Authorities arrested that woman and 23 other members of two Mexican drug trafficking operations that were based in Denver and Aurora during an operation last week, Dunn said. Perry Bertsch. The other people indicted on lesser charges could face prison sentences of at least 10 years. In the latest drug bust, authorities seized 200,000 fentanyl pills in an operation which was operating out of a business calledHondu Multiservicios, LLC at 6671 Federal Boulevard, according to the grand jury indictment obtained by The Gazette. JOLIET, IL On Tuesday, the Will County Sheriff's Office announced a major drug bust led to the recovery of 13 bundles of meth, two containers of Fentanyl pills and eight bundles of cocaine . Fountain Police arrested a convicted felon for drugs in his car the same day he was sentenced for another crime. Five people were discovered dead inside a Colorado apartment where a 4-month-old baby was also found alive after what police are investigating as a drug-fueled party involving fentanyl . Arthur Mills, 59, was arrested on Thursday, according to the Denver Police Department. , 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. 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 Special Operations Unit found $18,645 in cash, 250 grams of marijuana, 231 Xanax pills, 108 oxycodone, 25 pills of molly, and a digital scale all in the car. Gov. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. Four Loveland men have been arrested and one more is wanted after a Northern Colorado drug investigation that seized thousands of fentanyl pills, more than 12 pounds of meth and more. This is part of a seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills in Aurora, Around 200,000 fentanyl pills were recently seized in a drug task force drug sting. In the last 20 years in Colorado, nearly 5,000 Coloradans died from a prescription opioid overdose. / CBS Colorado. A deputy's knack for sussing out mules has made a lonely stretch of I-70 the top drug-bust site in Colorado Mesa County deputy Mike Miller has patrolled a stretch of desert west of Grand Junction for decades. The three suspects were identified as 25-year-old Martin Eduardo BustosTorres, 23 . He was in the Denver County jail as of Friday night. Vallejo-Gallo was arrested at her home in Aurora on Wednesday last week and faces drug kingpin charges, Dunn said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. APD estimated the drugs' street value at more than $200,000. Recently passed legislation is working to change things, however. The Adams County Sheriff's Office says they were part of a large task force which took down a massive drug bust. Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. Douglas. Dezmen Albritton. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis, Besser said. It will be a mild and dry start to the weekend. 24-year-old Hernan Ramirez was arrested in late December after a monthslong investigation. Colorado had more drug seizures, per pound, from 2017 through 2021 than any other state in the country the second state was California. Example video title will go here for this video. Food Bank of the Rockies says statewide, that's about $53 million to $55 million less per month. Law enforcement officials reported last month that more than 2 million dosage units of fentanyl were removed from Colorado communities so far this year. You have permission to edit this article. You think the cartels are in Mexico? for top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. Thats the most important thing to them. Powdered cocaine is abused throughout the greater metropolitan area, and crack cocaine is abused primarily in northeastern Denver and in Aurora, just outside Denver. Three Arrested in Aurora Drug Sweep. Read More. During the search, authorities uncovered approximately 8.23 pounds of heroin, 4.45 pounds of methamphetamine, and $108,000 in drug money. In Denver, the Denver Department of Health reported "the percentage change in drug-related deaths for the six months of . But make no mistake: In this case, my understanding is the drugs here were actually bound for Colorado. 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. 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. 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. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than where we should be for this time of year. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Fentanyl is being mixed with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and illegally produced marijuana. Denver leaders including Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen spoke with journalists on Sunday afternoon after what police describe as a "suspicious occurrence" near Coors Field. Rep. Diane DeGette is pushing legislation to expand a federal program to help people pay their utility bills and still make ends meet. Fentanyl pills collected in the April and February seizures had the potential to kill as many as 100,000 people in Colorado, Besser said. Court records show he's been charged with the following felonies: Ramirez' next court date is scheduled for Jan. 6. 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. 5. This creates a phenomena that is extremely hard for law enforcement to stop, Brian Besser, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Denver field division, told reporters Wednesday. They also confiscated 9.4 pounds of heroin, a kilo of cocaine, four guns including an AR15 rifle and a 9 mm handgun, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Bulk fentanyl quantities like this hold the caliber of weapons of mass destruction-type concern, Besser said Wednesday. You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. It starts with a small case that can be built into something meaningful, Kellner said. Drug kingpins dont always touch the drugs, but they do always touch the money.. Press Release. A Baghdad alum, she has 4 grown children and lives with her husband and her mom. Deputies found 274 marijuana plants and 60 pounds of packaged pot in an illegal grow operation. In the latest bust, authorities seized 170,000 fentanyl pills outside of an Aurora apartment. Published: Jun. Mills has gone before a judge and bond was set. Jared Polis signed Colorado's new fentanyl accountability bill at a ceremony at the state Capitol in May the new law provides stricter criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of fentanyl and other drugs laced with it. Authorities allowed the driver who was caught ferrying a record haul of pure fentanyl powder. In Mexican cities, the pills can be made for roughly 4 cents each. The DEA, 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe and Douglas County Sheriffs, and Denver Police recently netted a huge bust of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. On Feb. 28, the drug task force made up of officers from the Safford, Thatcher, and Pima Police departments, Graham County Sheriff's Office, and Arizona Department of Public Safety, raided the residence at about 6:45 a.m. by announcing their presence via a loudspeaker and breaching the front door using door rams and pry bars. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Rocky Mountain DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Besser and 18th Judicial Attorney John Kellner said they called the press conference to let people know they are not "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to drug enforcement. EVANSVILLE, Ind. NASCAR superstar Chase Elliott had successful surgery for an unspecified injury to his left leg Friday night, hours after a snowboarding accident in Colorado. Largest Database of Colorado Mugshots. Authorities seize over 11,000 units of counterfeit fentanyl in Hinds County drug bust (MDPS) By WLBT.com Staff Published: Feb. 1, 2023 at 12:43 PM PST HINDS COUNTY, Miss. Meaning heavier snow in southern Colorado and across the south-eastern plains. So it was essentially meant to throw off anyone who might have seen that, Dunn said. Compare Drug Bust Counseling Center in Aurora, CO. Access business information, offers, and more - THE REAL YELLOW PAGES ", RELATED: Denver Health Officials Warn About Increase In Deadly Overdoses Linked To Fentanyl. A bill at the state Capitol would make some of the biggest changes to the law since it was passed more than 50 years ago. BOND: $2000. Investigators intercepted several shipments of drugs, Phillips said. 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. A K9 team in Weld County successfully seized more than 88 pounds of methamphetamine recently, worth more than half a million dollars in street value. Police found more than $18,000 in cash and more than 300 pills during a traffic stop in west suburban Aurora Tuesday night. Another option for Fire TV is to have the appdelivered directly to your Fire TVthrough Amazon. In 2021, she decided to return to local news. By Tony Keith. Darren Weekly said he has seen the drugs flow like wildfire into Highlands Ranch and Ken Caryl neighborhoods and warned parents to be aware of what their children are doing on social media. The drug market morphs by the hour. Investigators said it is believed the drug trafficking ring in Colorado has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. 8, 2021 at 9:32 PM PDT. 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. Gov. There was a 403 percent increase in the number of pounds seized of fentanyl between 2017 and last year on Colorados highways. An 18thJudicial District grand jury indicted eight people, some of whom were related, on charges of smuggling and distributing meth, heroin and fentanyl pills, all of which originated in Mexico. First published on March 11, 2022 / 7:35 PM. I have never seen anything like this in my life.. In the search of his home and his two vehicles, police said they found more than 80,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, 500 grams of suspected Xanax and more than $1,800 cash. During the course of a year-long investigation into Vallejo-Gallos group, authorities seized more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of heroin, four pounds of cocaine and about 15,000 pills of fentanyl that had been disguised to look like prescription Oxycodone, officials said. Four locations were searched in Aurora on Thursday as part of this drug bust, sources say. It has arrested 65 high-level defendants and confiscated 500,000 fake fentanyl pills, 360 pounds of meth, 104 pounds of cocaine and taken nearly 200 guns off the street that were tied to drug operations. 16) Arthur Moore, 68 years of age, of 712 James Drive in . - 7 pounds heroin and 7 pounds crack The Aurora residence was on the 12100 block of Amherst Circle. The indictment claims that a person named Julian Green was the "leader and supervisor" of the operation. AURORA, Colo. A 24-year-old man was arrested on drug charges late last month after a four-month investigation. It's the largest drug case in recent history out of the Franklin County, Ohio, prosecutor's office and including 79 people indicted and more than $5 million of narcotics . A search of the vehicle yielded $18,645 USC, 254.81 grams cannabis, 231 pills of Alprazolam (Xanax), 108 pills of Oxycodone, 25 pills MDMA and a digital scale. 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.