As a former U.S. Charges unknown. 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. We were actually looking for the individuals that were involved in the armed robberies, Mace said. U.S.-Mexico Efforts Targeting Drug Cartels Have Unraveled, Top DEA Chavez was last arrested in 2016 on several violent felonies, including. On August 6, U.S.Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Alamogordo immigration checkpoint on U.S. Highway 54, encountered a gray Jeep Patriot approaching the primary inspection area. 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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. They targeted violent criminals and drug organizations in Roswell. Ryan Rodriguez is charged in all 12 counts of the indictment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot2', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767737710-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Gonzales said 39 members of the group were charged in a federal indictment, and 26 have been arrested, so far. Drug trafficking - AP NEWS He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. Lock Vigil told Fox News that while on the surface this may not seem like a major drug bust, it does follow a pattern used by major drug traffickers. Six people have been arrested by ICE on various drug trafficking charges involving crack cocaine. NYC drug bust nets over 120 pounds of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine Were going to be knocking on your doors soon its just a matter of time. Vigil said he is encouraged by the tone of the Trump administration, which has vowed support and funding to further these operations. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Contact, Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved, FreightWaves, Inc, Five biggest Mexico border drug busts of 2020, Loaded & Rolling (Enterprise Fleet News/Analysis), Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border, CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes, $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment, $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof, Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. Read More. Investigators believe a Mexican drug cartel is behind a major illegal drug operation in Tulare . Mexican authorities found 25,000 pounds worth of narcotics hidden inside a tractor-trailer that was abandoned just south of the Mexican border on Dec. 6. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Despite the deputy seizing that much marijuana, its unlikely that the suspect will face charges, due to a technicality. Quintana-Arias faces federal drug charges and was arraigned Friday. Sergio Ruiz was sentenced to 240 months in prison. A diplomatic row has frozen U.S.-Mexican efforts to target drug cartels. Manuel Varela. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. NEW MEXICO MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY CONCEALING 67 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN A BOX TRUCK. Some of the drugs were headed to the US, Gallo said Sunday. }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020. New Mexico Bookings. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. Dona Ana. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Count 1 charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Members of Albuquerque drug trafficking organization charged with Marshals Office, DEA, and local law enforcement agencies made 100 arrests in a week. Further, that Ryan Rodriguez acted as a mid-level cocaine distributor, receiving supplies of cocaine from Jose and Natalie Mendoza, converting it to crack cocaine, and distributing it to customers, including an undercover agent posing as a lower-level drug trafficker. The following agencies assisted with the investigation . For now, I can tell you that the goal with this operation is to reduce the availability of heroin and other drugs in the Valley before they and the people who dispense them wreak havoc in the lives of the families who call Espaola and Rio Arriba County home., The operation in the southern part of the state was focused on a family-run drug transporting ring and was part of a larger, national effort called Project Deliverance., Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. A lock ( U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested six defendants Feb. 17, charged with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine. CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes. Mexican law enforcement officials made four major drug busts in recent days which yielded over 120,000 lbs. Massive meth bust in Oklahoma stems from Mexican drug ring bringing Know of a story that needs to be covered? A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The bust comes as several states have legalized recreational marijuana; New Mexico is set to decriminalize it in April. Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 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. DRUG CARTELS IN MEXICO BEING TAKEN OVER BY RUTHLESS, BUT CHARMING, WOMEN. Legal Statement. Seventeen people were arrested apart of the same drug ring on a 66-count indictment. During that bust, they located financial ledgers that allege the Atlanta man received over. 2. 64 people indicted in massive Colorado drug ring bust - The Denver Post $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment. Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 1:10AM. 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. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale . A drug-sniffing dog then alerted CBP officers to the rear door of the trailer. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Photo Courtesy ICE. New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns some of them stolen thousands in cash, a fair amount of fentanyl and a Los Lunas Police badge when they raided the home of 35-year-old Army veteran Claudio Chavez on Jan. 30. 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. DRUG CARTELS REUSING MEXICAN TUNNELS ALREADY DISCOVERED BUT LEFT UNFILLED. Drug bust: Four arrested in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. | CTV News Jurez police and the Mexican military seized a huge drug load of fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine and marijuana estimated to be worth more than $60 million. His detention hearing is set for Friday. Six people have been arrested by ICE on various drug trafficking charges involving crack cocaine. CBP: Drug Seizures Dropped at Border Ports in SoCal in 2022. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. U.S. authorities said Wednesday they completed drug-trafficking busts in Oregon that involved an international network of couriers, dealers and stash-house operators who smuggled. Edvardo Carlson is charged in Counts 1, 6, 7, and 8. The situation there is simply not acceptable, he said at a news conference in Albuquerque. The massive bust was a collaboration between New Hampshire and Maine. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. googletag.cmd.push(function() { Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. All rights reserved. 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. Natalie Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12. Upon examination, the deputy discovered seven duffle bags filled with marijuana, registering a street value of more than $1 million. Market data provided by Factset. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; 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. Tag: Drug Bust - NBC 7 San Diego ALAMOGORDO, N.M. In separate incidents over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested a wanted aggravated felon and a narcotics smuggler. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. 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 googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot); Box 607 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. Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. (Google Maps). ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. Overwhelming most illegal drugs get through. Ryan Rodriguezs sister, Andrea Rodriguez, allegedly delivered drugs to customers on Ryan Rodriguezs behalf. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges. 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. Have a question about Government Services? The driver, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen male was placed under arrest and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration pending criminal prosecution. There were 438 killings in 2014 and 312 in 2015. Edvardo Carlson allegedly conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. 0:04. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020 - Wellofinspiration.stream More than 300,000 fentanyl pills seized in federal bust connected to 3 major drug trafficking groups . An indictment is only an accusation. Federal officials said Ramon Reyes-Mesa may have already fled to Mexico. According to court records, Jose Mendoza and Natalie Mendoza also laundered proceeds from their drug trafficking by making large cash payments on auto loans and large cash deposits into accounts at credit unions. Official websites use .gov Were going to make sure that youre always looking over your shoulder, Vigil said about dangerous Mexican drug cartels making their way into Texas. Major drug bust results in 49 arrests in Chester County This figure is less than half of the 71 homicides for all of the month of March. Share on Facebook - Kcrg.com Assistant U.S. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the At a press conference in Las Cruces, N.M. on Friday announcing the bust, Doa Ana County Sheriff Enrique Kiki Vigil essentially echoed Attorney General Jeff Sessions mantra on how to deal with criminal enterprises involving illegal immigrants. Attorneys Peter Eicker and Matthew Nelson are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. Tijuana-San Diego. We are a perfect spot since our county borders Mexico, he said. The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California.