This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Besser said a lot of drugs pass through Denver because of its central location, but he stressed that not everything is gloom and doom. 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. 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. 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. Besser had a laundry list of what the DEA is doing behind the scenes to eradicate drug traffic, including the investigation of 50 active cases, a third of which are in the 18thJudicial District. The indictment claims that a person named Julian Green was the "leader and supervisor" of the operation. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Odom Memorial Community Drug Bust locations in Aurora, CO. 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. 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. PDF Substance Use and Mental Disorders in the Denver-Aurora - SAMHSA Now: 1 location off miss & Peoria in aurora. A months-long investigation in Colorado Springs ended with the arrest of William Johns on Aug. 4. Should Denver open a safe drug use site? Federal and local law enforcement busted suspected members of a Mexican organization accused of distributing cocaine and meth in Colorado and other state, sources tell 9Wants to Know. The Drug Enforcement Agency and the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office announced the bust Wednesday in Centennial, saying eight people have been indicted on allegations they were smugglers and distributors in a drug trafficking organization that focused on methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid. 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. They expect to lose product, but what they want the most is to get them money down south,Besser said. 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 . 2023 Colorado Public Radio. Drug kingpins dont always touch the drugs, but they do always touch the money.. 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. Aurora Crime & Safety News | Aurora, IL Patch Tipsters can remain anonymous. , 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. He is listed as the owner of El Rancho Market, also raided on Thursday. The other people indicted on lesser charges could face prison sentences of at least 10 years. Jared Polis says the state is looking at ways to reduce those costs. Published: Jun. AURORA, Ill. - Police found more than $18,000 in cash and more than 300 pills during a traffic stop in west suburban Aurora Tuesday night. (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. SAFFORD Safford Police arrested a man who reportedly admitted to having an estimated 40 grams of methamphetamine for "personal use.". They were taken by surprise by Biden's sudden announcement that he would not stop Congress from blocking D.C.'s new sentencing guidelines from going into effect. The Aurora residence was on the 12100 block of Amherst Circle. 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. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. 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. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Scout Motors picks South Carolina for new $2B EV. Its crucially important to include a financial component in investigations of drug-related crimes, Amanda Prestegard, acting special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigations said. Lieutenant Greg Spayth says the incident was a sizable bust that will keep these drugs off the street. Aurora Police said the investigation began in September after their narcotics. 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. Gov. Several of the suspects appeared in federal custody hearings Feb. 19. Date: 3/3 12:44 am #1 failed to present . Special Agent Garrett Croon (312) 829-1199. They are available everywhere and can be obtained with little effort.. We are watching a system moving across Utah that will bring increasing snow chances for the mountains for your Friday afternoon and evening. It takes a good days drive to cover Colorado, but well help you do it in a few minutes. According to the documents, some of the drugs sold by Tapia-Rubio were brought in from Mexico, via California. 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 remaining indictees are on the lam across U.S. and Mexico. Douglas. One of four suspects arrested at a hotel near Coors Field says there was no plot to shoot MLB All-Star Game fans, even though one of his friends harbored a large cache of weapons in his room. The drugs are estimated to have a street value in the millions, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. Both Besser and District Attorney John Kellner stressed the fact that fentanyl pills are not only blue in color, but pink and white. Subscribe to ourdaily 9NEWSLETTERfor top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. The availability and accessibility of fake pills (laced with fentanyl) right now is absolutely staggering. After another large bust, drug enforcement officials warn the public The DEA estimates that 1 kilogram of fentanyl, or 2.2 pounds, can kill up to 500,000 people if lethal doses are ingested. 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. 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. Theyre here. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", RELATED: Denver Health Officials Warn About Increase In Deadly Overdoses Linked To Fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver area. Since 2015, Besser said the drug landscape has shifted considerably, moving from organic heroin to synthetic pills, which are both more discreet and more lucrative for cartels. On Tuesday, a local mail sorting center contacted police after co Drug and weapons suspect in Maven Hotel bust worked construction, has child, and lengthy criminal history Managers also noted that the person who was renting one of the rooms had requested to. 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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. The homes where the drugs were found were in Denver and Aurora. When bought in bulk, fentanyl pills that used to cost $8 to $10 can now be found for just $1. Jared Polis has endorsed the proposal to change the name of Mount Evans in a letter to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names. Nearly 160 pounds of marijuana found in Aurora drug bust; 4 men charged 21 Indicted in Federal Drug Bust Operation With Ties to the Tri-State It was led by Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran, 30, of Thornton, according to the DEA, who they said coordinated the drug shipments and deals from Mexico. #4 Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. Mills has gone before a judge and bond was set. Several other agencies, including the Aurora Police Department and the criminal investigation branch of the IRS, helped the FBI and prosecutors investigate the local cell of the cartel. Youth are especially vulnerable, Besser said, as they are targeted on social media to purchase these drugs creating an unparalleled accessibility.. Approximately 15,000 candy-colored pills were seized in Manhattan, according to the DEA. Those 11 people are included in a federal indictment that was released later on Tuesday. You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. PHOTO BY QUINCY SNOWDON/Sentinel Colorado. A Baghdad alum, she has 4 grown children and lives with her husband and her mom. This was an organization that was working here bringing it in from the west coast.. 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. They also confiscated 9.4 pounds of heroin, a 2.2 pounds of cocaine, four guns including an AR-15. AURORA, Ill. - Eighteen people were arrested and charged with numerous illegal gun and drug related felonies in Aurora Wednesday. Five people were arrested in Fort Collins after their alleged role in a drug bust. The Denver Police Department will continue to arrest those who prey on those who suffer from addiction, Chief Paul M. Pazen said in a news release. 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. Recently passed legislation is working to change things, however. Powdered cocaine is abused throughout the greater metropolitan area, and crack cocaine is abused primarily in northeastern Denver and in Aurora, just outside Denver. Colorado will be caught between a high pressure ridge to the east and a deep low pressure trough to the west. Fentanyl pills are extremely cheap right now, officials said Wednesday. 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. AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- Three men from Mexico and a Bolingbrook man face drug charges after Kane County Sheriff's detectives said they found nearly 160 pounds of cannabis in a Jeep in west. Colorado Springs police seize 16 pounds of heroin and make arrest in 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. 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. Besser said he worries that fentanyl could soon be laced into vape products, which are already incredibly popular with many younger users. The same week of that large drug bust, Miller seized more . Mills was arrested at the Race Street location. Aurora only hired 17 new police officers last year. Shes been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice. Another option for Fire TV is to have the appdelivered directly to your Fire TVthrough Amazon. 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. Authorities also recovered 10 guns during the investigation, which began in January 2019. In 2021, she decided to return to local news. Private and rental vehicles and commercial trucks fre-quently are used to transport drugs into and through Colorado. A Mexican national who was residing in Aurora illegally, Vallejo-Gallo and her group used overland traffickers and UPS shipments to get drugs to the metroplex, according to Dunn. But make no mistake: In this case, my understanding is the drugs here were actually bound for Colorado. FBI busts Mexican drug trafficking operation in Denver, Aurora - 43 pounds cocaine Gov. There's a rise in anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities.