Deputies confiscate $1.3 million worth of heroin and other narcotics in major drug bust. This story has been shared 168,313 times. Other drugs seized within that area include marijuana . All the suspects were charged with drug crimes, with most in connection to a wide-scale trafficking ring in Leon and Gadsden counties. More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Eleven alleged drug traffickers have been arrested and charged in Amarillo, announced U.S. attorney for the . Annie Rose Lewis of Temple, 31, was also named in an indictment charging one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm that alleges she possessed a .380 caliber pistol on Dec. 21, 2020 after she was convicted in 2011 in federal court of manufacturing counterfeit currency. Twenty Central Texans are facing federal drug trafficking and firearms charges stemming from five separate, but related, federal grand jury indictments. US Customs and Border Protection reported a 1,066% increase in the amount of fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2021 in south Texas, the agency said this week in a press release . Texas criminalizes fentanyl amid drug surge from border crisis Newly sworn-in Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia is praising his Narcotics division and SWAT for a recent drug bust. Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. bust in U.S. history, finding more than 5,528 pounds of the drug . We can help! The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas history after finding the drugs in a hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a . Our officers for the McLennan County Sheriffs Office, Waco PD, DPS and other agencies are out there working around the clock overtime to protect them and get these kinds of drugs off the streets, out of the hands of the bad guys, and lock up the perpetrators, said McNamara. One additional defendant was arrested today with 2 pounds of methamphetamine, three rifles, and a shotgun. The others face between five years and 40 years in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. Four other conspirators were taken into custody last week including: Amado Pedro Castillo, 59, Brooklyn, New York, Fernando Alcides Lopez-Mendez, 37, Los Angeles, CA, Justino Cruz-Victorio, 34, Joshua Tree, CA. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27ab7d5bde3e31 That opens up large gaps of tens, or sometimes hundreds of miles, where the drug cartels have the ability to get fentanyl across the border.. The defendants include: Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan. Billion-Dollar California Drug Bust July 2021: The Details - LaJolla.com Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Major Drug Trafficking A seizure like this, he most likely got a phone call," Chavez said. Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. The second indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In that time, DPS seized a staggering 95 pounds, enough to administer 21.5 million lethal doses. The group is accused of conspiring to distribute multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas since January 2020. Feds Make Another Huge Meth Bust in Brady Tuesday Indictment #4 U.S. v. Kayli Marie Guthrie Operation No Warning began in June 2020, according to FDLE . 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. Published: Aug. 26, 2022 at 6:40 . of Public Safety. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Posted: Jun 21, 2021 / 04:36 PM MDT. The drugs are estimated to have a street value of $397,120. DEA Takes Down Major Drug Ring in the Heart of Texas. Aware of some of the groups trafficking, law enforcement seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020. Marshals returned to Brady on Tuesday morning in an attempt to stop the gigantic drug ring that is supplying narcotics across Texas according to sources with the federal court system. The DEA said the amount seized in Dallas equated to 20 percent of all the meth found in 2020. That's more than 16 tons of chronic. By KXII Staff. Suite 115 Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; 20 Central Texans indicted on federal drug trafficking, firearms - KXXV 50 people charged in multi-agency drug bust in Houston - KPRC The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Diggs and C. Andrew Colasurdo. 02-23-2023 | Local Media Release. Roberts and Keith are both accused of distributing drugs in the Bellmead area. 2021 / 8:48 AM / CBS Texas . Authorities seize record 1.7 million fentanyl pills in Arizona Eduardo A. Chvez, a special agent in charge of the DEAs Dallas office, said that the meth was smuggled across the border by traffickers working with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is led by Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes, who is nicknamed El Mencho.3. Its the largest, that Im aware of, methamphetamine bust, McNamara said during a press conference Monday. Wesley Warrick, age 50 of Cameron; "It's a staggering amount to be seized at one time," Eduardo Chavez, the special agent in charge for DEA Dallas, told local TV station WFAA. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in seven shipping containers late Monday night, officials said. Houston-area cops find stolen Lamborghini with guns and cash inside February 21, 2023. Authorities have seized nearly 200 pounds of drugs valued at more than $1.6 million following three separate searches at the Laredo Port of Entry in Texas. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Screenshot from Bexar County Sheriff video. Defendant Healer engaged in an armed stand-off with law enforcement today. In 2019, DEA fentanyl seizures reached a record high since 2015, with DEA record seizures totaling 3,138 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl-related compounds.1 As a result of the opioid epidemic, the use of heroin and fentanyl has significantly increased. Please enter valid email address to continue. To illustrate the impact of drug trafficking on the opioid epidemic and drug addiction in the U.S., were sharing the biggest drug busts in Texas this year. Members of the ring tried to trade drugs for firearms ones they could transport to Mexico contributing to terrible violence south of the border. The operation was conducted by members of the McLennan County Sheriffs Office Organized Crime Unit, the sheriffs offices SWAT, and the Waco Police Departments Drug Enforcement Unit, along with the Texas Dept. Later that evening, officers encountered a daily express consignment truck hauling a shipment of vinyl samples arriving from Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced the largest methamphetamine bust in North Texas history last week: 1,900 pounds in big grey bricks stowed in the false . Various people working with law enforcement provided information regarding the drug distribution activities. Last week, it was revealed that the the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas division had made a major drug bust in October, resulting in more than $45 million worth of methamphetamine being seized. Media Releases | U.S. Customs and Border Protection CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Video above shows members of the Nueces County District Attorney's Criminal Interdiction unit looking for hidden drug cartel cash inside this vehicle. According to the indictment, Guthrie was convicted on March 27, 2020, in Bell County, for possession of a controlled substance less than one gram and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 950 N Federal Highway . Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name. Central Americans looking for refuge from the Northern Triangle countries Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have taken these policy moves, as well as the overwhelmingly more welcoming tone from Democrats, as a sign that Biden is inviting them to cross the border. Im just proud of our officers and the work they put together with other agencies We want to make it as difficult as we can for them to get their dope.. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Officials say after getting a search warrant some 393 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was found inside. Note: Internet Explorer has problems displaying the following charts. Packages containing 114 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. On Tuesday, January 26, CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a tractor hauling a shipment of toilet paper arriving from Mexico. Greg Abbott said he planned to soon sign a bill that had passed the Texas Senate, as overdose cases on the synthetic opioid spike. "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. While officials would not confirm how many people were arrested, they did say they believe the narcotics are from a cartel. Investigators did not reveal the name or location of the business or say where the alleged meth lab was located. If convicted, Barton faces btween 10 years and life in federal prison. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. During the January 5 bust led by the DEA Amarillo office, more than 25 guns were also seized. Albert Lee, also known as "Mook," 32, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge. Cocaine, Meth, & Firearm Drug Bust in Dallas. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The giant haul had been divided into 633 packages that were stashed in a hidden compartment, each of which would have been repackaged for distribution in Texas, Chicago, St. Louis, and Atlanta. (KELO) -A major drug bust Tuesday night in Sioux Falls involving potentially dozens of deadly doses of fentanyl. Twenty central Texas residents face federal drug trafficking and firearms charges stemming from five separate, but related, federal grand jury indictments unsealed today in Waco, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw; Temple Police Chief Shawn Reynolds; Killeen Police Chief Charles Kimble; and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division. Drug ledgers were also found, which contained customer and payment information, in addition to 14 firearms, some of them loaded. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. So glad to get that off the street.. More than 16 tons of cocaine worth up to $1B seized in massive bust in The $1.6 million were found in cash stashed in tube socks, shoe boxes, and a large trash bag.2 This is one of the hundreds of cocaine and meth busts that demonstrate how serious drug trafficking is and the role it plays in drug use, addiction, and the increasing need for drug addiction treatment. A locked padlock Traffic stop leads to major drug bust in Cibola County by: KRQE Staff. 15 arrested in massive drug bust in west Georgia - FOX 5 Atlanta The amount of drugs seized was so large, a hazmat crew from the Houston Police Department were called in to assist.4, Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations conducted what they claimed to be the largest meth seizure in Houstons history. Federal authorities arrested 21 individuals yesterday, including several Central Texans, on federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, Drug Enforcement . The FBI, Temple Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted this investigation. 3. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Amid an 800 percent surge in seizures of fentanyl statewide due to porous borders, Texas will create a new criminal offense for the manufacture or delivery of the drug, the governor has announced. Homeland Security said the bust was part of a joint operation that included the DEA, ATF, Houston police and fire, Texas DPS and Harris County Pct. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. See It: Aaron Carter's Mom Releases Graphic Photos of His Death Scene A major drug bust Tuesday night in Sioux Falls involving potentially Hopefully, these idiots are going to get some tall sentences, McNamara said. "No doubt, this got his attention. Newly endangered milkweed could stop Texas border The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 'Don't Mistake Kindness For Weakness,' Dallas Police Chief Praises Tip leads to largest drug bust in Liberty County; at least $500K - KPRC The third federal indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. Biggest bust: More than $500K in meth off Central Texas streets, Assistant district attorney from Williamson County suspended after DWI wreck in Hewitt, New non-profit coming to Bell County in fight against homelessness, Change was like night and day: Mother testifies in retrial of ex-Waco day care owner charged in childs overdose death, Impacts of four-day week on school support staff. The remaining defendants face between five years and 40 years in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. "[This] city-wide, cooperative law enforcement efforts to disrupt the methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking in our city was a tremendous success," Chavez said at the time. Major Susan Cotter (@HCSO_Patrol) September 1, 2021 This is no Tenaha PD joke-of-a-bust . Texas couple accused of dealing fentanyl to minors, causing 3 deaths. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan, Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen, Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, age 30 of Nolanville, Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton. This federal grand jury indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Attorney General James Busts Two Major Drug Trafficking Rings in The first big drug bust was July 8 at the Paso del Norte . After the tractor was referred to a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, 43 packages containing 113.89 pounds of cocaine were found in the trailer. An apartment complex with twin buildings in one of Dallas' most crime-infested neighborhoods served as a major drug distribution hub that was both ruinous to the . For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. The Dallas division of the DEA has made the largest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. 1 of 3. 27, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, Brady . Showing 1 - 10 of 10953 results. Press contact for the U.S. Attorneys Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov. Frank Medina Jr, age 43 of Temple; The CPS said that the cocaine has an estimated street value of $878,220. Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, age 30 of Nolanville; Fentanyl & more seized in large drug bust in Texas - Texomashomepage.com The Mexican cartel's leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, is one of the most wanted drug lords, with the DEA offering a $10 million reward for his capture. Denison police make largest drug bust ever - kxii.com The data, however, overwhelmingly shows that migrants were flooding the border because they believed Biden would welcome them with open arms. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Texas ranch of late oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens sells after $80M price cut, Severe weather outbreak produces hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, Cops quit woke Austin in droves, plunging city into crisis: If youre conservative, its a hostile place, High school star of Friday Night Lights fame arrested for allegedly choking ex-wife. These indictments are an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. The separate but related investigations were conducted by the FBI, Temple Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Drug Enforcement Agency. The bust was made Wednesday, June 8, at a home on Park Avenue in South Waco. Sixteen indicted in multi-state drug distribution ring - DEA (KWTX) - Federal agents swept through Central Texas on Thursday and Friday and arrested 15 area residents named in sealed drug trafficking and firearms indictments, the U.S. Attorney's Office . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In total, more than 1,930 pounds of meth stuffed into 663 packages were pulled from the vehicle. Chavez is charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance (penalty group 1) over 400 grams, a first-degree felony. Drug Bust - ABC13 Houston Bexar County Deputies arrest 3 people in a drug bust on San - KTSA During the investigation that led to the indictments, authorities seized about four kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of methamphetamine, and a half dozen firearms. Stimulant abuse involving cocaine and meth has also remained high. 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. Largest Texas Drug Busts in 2021. During a search of the residence where Iris Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and co-conspirator, Mario Amador-Garcia, 31, and co-conspirator, Bayron Eberto . PDF Drug Trends in Texas 2021 FINAL 16July21 - Steve Hicks School of Social The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A man named Hector Manuel Castro-Quirino, 47, and his girlfriend Vanesa Ann Cervantes, 38, were residents of the two-bedroom home. The indictment alleges that on November 11, 2020, he possessed at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. SAN ANTONIO - Three people are in custody and are expected to face federal charges following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. This is the real deal, with big guns and a large amount of cash and ammunition seized. They were arrested and charged with drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal agents arrest more than a dozen local residents named in drug BRADY, TX - U.S. This story has been shared 144,036 times. WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL) A traffic stop by Texas Department of Public Safety lead to a major drug seizure last week near Amarillo. US-Mexico border drug busts: Increasing number of Americans being The remaining defendants face between five years and 40 years in federal prison upon conviction because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. DEA Seizes $45 Million of Meth Thought to Belong to Infamous - Newsweek Oliphint was arrested Thursday, April 15, 2021. 11 meth, cocaine traffickers charged in Amarillo - NewsChannel 10 Major drug operation nets 13 arrests, millions of dollars, dozens of Copyright 2022 KWTX. On Wednesday, January 27, 20 packages containing 51.49 pounds of cocaine discovered were also found in a tractor manifesting a shipment of kitchen cabinets coming in from Mexico. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Oliphint, who was arrested Thursday, faces as much as 20 years in prison if convicted. DPS and HPD bust suspected drug lab in NW Houston . The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fianc, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen; Its clear that Bidens open border policies are unleashing deadly consequences right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Abbott told the room of reporters. Kimberly Lee, age 26 of Gatesville; Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The indictments also named Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, 34 of San Juan in Hidalgo County. An additional four guns were recovered at other search locations. One operation began with a street level narcotics seizure. Insisting that the border was not facing a crisis, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in early March that the problems the agency faced should be blamed on the previous administration. The second operation began with the investigation of a stolen vehicle parked outside a business. Houston meth bust could be Houston's biggest bust yet | khou.com Sheriff Javier . 6 arrested in cocaine bust at Jacksonville home - News4JAX Below is a list of recent Texas drug busts that have seized record amounts of drugs. 47 people caught in drug bust focused in Jefferson, Clearfield Counties In the home, law enforcement found five gallon-sized plastic bags filled with drugs, which were stashed in the master bedroom along with other smaller-sized plastic baggies of assorted colors. Law enforcement officials say the drug investigations are ongoing. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . This afternoon he was taken into custody at his Port Orchard residence without incident. WACO, Texas (KWTX) - McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara is praising the work of his deputies and fellow law enforcement officers after an operation - hailed as the biggest meth bust in the history of the McLennan County Sheriffs Office - led to three arrests and the seizure of more than $500,000 in methamphetamine.