The 32 kilos of narcotics seized have a street value of $2 million, police said. The seizure took place on October 8, but the DEA is only now sharing the details. The Texas-Mexico border has been a hub for drug trafficking for years. 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Diggs and C. Andrew Colasurdo. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Colton Lane Lewis, age 30 of Temple; 1 of 3. "Investigators believe the seizure is the . |, 2020 Drug Enforcement Administration National Drug Threat Assessment, Cocaine, Firearms, $1.6 Million Cash Recovered In Drug Bust, DEAs Dallas office announces seizure of $45 million in meth, heroin its largest bust ever, $1 million meth bust in Liberty County could be biggest one ever in countys history, More than $3.4 million in methamphetamines, other narcotics seized in north Houston, What You Should Know About Drug Metabolism. During this investigation authorities seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine, approximately seven kilograms of methamphetaine and a half a dozen firearms. Sheriff Javier . Tulare County Sheriff's Office via AP, File. A total of 50 people were arrested following one of the largest drug busts in south Texas in recent years, according to Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of . Note: Internet Explorer has problems displaying the following charts. This story has been shared 168,313 times. The bust . Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton; BATON ROUGE - On Saturday deputies shutdown a large drug operations near S . "No doubt, this got his attention. 4 men arrested after DPS troopers announce fentanyl bust in NW Houston. In total, more than 1,930 pounds of meth stuffed into 663 packages were pulled from the vehicle. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A major drug bust at a home in Northwest Jacksonville led to the arrests of six people and the seizure of 9 kilograms of cocaine, authorities said. Published: Aug. 26, 2022 at 6:40 . They are buying a death sentence, Abbott said. FORT WORTH, Texas Tarrant County authorities have seized more than 1,400 pounds of liquid methamphetamine over the last five weeks, an estimated street value totaling $16 million, officials . The 2012 Freightliner tractor and shipment was also referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, where one package containing 17.85 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $357,145 was found. "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. Press contact for the U.S. Attorneys Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov. March 27, 2021 3:10 PM in News. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop the widespread harm these illicit substances cause our friends, families, and neighbors.. February 27, 2023. On Tuesday, January 26, CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a tractor hauling a shipment of toilet paper arriving from Mexico. LIKE 25 NEWS KXXV ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LATEST CENTRAL TEXAS STORIES. 3. . It was at that location where officials say they found more than 190 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine, and nearly 60 kilograms of crystal meth. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. "I see a lot of lives saved when we can stack up kilograms of drugs like this on a table," Chavez said. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. "Unfortunately, methamphetamine is one of the largest threats in North Texas, so we would anticipate that a lot of it was destined for the market here.". 2:00 AM on Feb 3, 2021 CST. According to KNEL, on Apr. Jose . On Feb. 16 around 2:15 p.m. a DPS trooper stopped a 2021 . An indictment should not be considered evidence of guilty. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) . She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Showing 1 - 10 of 10953 results. Law enforcement officers arrested Abel Chavez, Allen Roberts, and Marvin Keith on drug charges after the months-long operation resulted in the seizure of about 38.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 ounces of marijuana, nearly $18,000 in suspected drug proceeds, a Glock pistol, and an AR-15 style weapon, the sheriff said. Members of the ring tried to trade drugs for firearms ones they could transport to Mexico contributing to terrible violence south of the border. 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. The defendants include: Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan. SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody, two of which are being held in a federal facility, following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. File photo showing packages of methamphetamine crystals. The FBI, Temple Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted this investigation. By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV November 19, 2021 at 7:22 pm EST. NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) A variety of methamphetamine drugs, valued at some $16,000,000, was seized during several multi-agency North Texas drug busts over the last two months. All the suspects were charged with drug crimes, with most in connection to a wide-scale trafficking ring in Leon and Gadsden counties. 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. More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. (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. Attorneys Office said in a press release Friday. Indictment #3 - U.S. v. Lori Oliphint. In May 2021, authorities seized 1,789 pounds of meth in north Houston, as well as large quantities of other narcotics, during an investigation near North Shepherd and I-45 in north Houston. The six indictments, returned by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on August 24, 2021,were unsealed today (August 31, 2021). The others were arrested over the past two days. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 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. Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; The amount of heroin seized by DEA Field Divisions increased by 30% from 2018 to 2019, with the largest amounts of heroin seized in Texas, California, Arizona, and New York. The indictment alleges that on November 11, 2020, he possessed at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a . Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is prosecuting these cases. 02-23-2023 | Local Media Release. Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick would each face 10 years to life in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams, authorities said. "As these three seizures illustrate, our frontline officers at World Trade Bridge continue to maintain their vigilance, supporting the CBP mission by disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics entering our borders," Acting Port Director Eugene Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry said in a statement. The CPS said that the cocaine has an estimated street value of $878,220. Indictment #1 U.S. v. Gutierrez, et al. Largest Texas Drug Busts in 2021. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Seattle A series of arrests over the last ten days has disrupted a multi-state methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. The DEA and our partners are focused on the most dangerous criminals in Washington. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Officials say after getting a search warrant some 393 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was found inside. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. The Dallas division of the DEA has made the largest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. If convicted, Beck, Penaloza-Calderon, Neely, Hale, Peterson, Loza and Thomas could face from 10 years to life in federal prison based on the amount of methamphetamine involved. Click to reveal BOSTON - Two members of a Cape Cod heroin trafficking ring have been sentenced to 10 years and nine years in prison for their roles in a violent kidnapping captured on video. Read More. 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 . Chavez is charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance (penalty group 1) over 400 grams, a first-degree felony. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "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. Packages containing 114 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. Young, unsuspecting Texans are buying drugs that are laced with fentanyl. 950 N Federal Highway "But we also want to send a clear signal to the bad guys that we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in this fight and we will continue to do that.". Published: May 5, 2021, 5:21 AM Updated: May 5, 2021, 6:28 AM Tags: Drug Bust , Crime , Liberty County LIBERTY, Texas - A tip led to the largest drug bust in Liberty County Tuesday, the Liberty . The investigation began in June when law enforcement was tipped off about drug dealers operating out of a home in South Acres Drive in Dallas, TX. Carter's body was discovered by his housekeeper. OVer the past two days, federal, state and local authorities arrested 13 of the above defendants. This story has been shared 144,036 times. We've received your submission. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly 200 pounds of illegal drugs and arrested 23 fugitives last week. These arrests are a significant step for community safety.. If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. This afternoon he was taken into custody at his Port Orchard residence without incident. Sign up below to receive 10% OFF your entire order! If convicted, he faces between 10 years and life in federal prison. Texas couple accused of dealing fentanyl to minors, causing 3 deaths. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. Banyan Texas is a rehab center in Waelder that offers various levels of substance abuse treatment to help people who are suffering from drug addictions and want to recover their sobriety. The others face between five years and 40 years in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. The amount of heroin seized by DEA Field Divisions increased by 30% from 2018 to 2019, with the largest amounts of heroin seized in Texas, California, Arizona, and New York. 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. Drug Bust. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. 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. 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. Earlier this month, the DEA arrested 11 alleged traffickers in Amarillo, Texas, on suspicion of conspiring to deal hundreds of grams of meth and cocaine. During the investigation that led to the indictments, authorities seized about four kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of methamphetamine, and a half dozen firearms. Posted: Jun 21, 2021 / 04:36 PM MDT. 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 stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( They were arrested and charged with drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. As of 15 December 2021 the Drug Seizures dashboard now includes seizures of all drug types. If convicted, Barton faces btween 10 years and life in federal prison. 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 . Newly endangered milkweed could stop Texas border Unfortunately, methamphetamine is one of the largest threats in North Texas, so we would anticipate that a lot of it was destined for the market here.". The drugs were coming up from California and were being distributed in King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason and Kitsap counties. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody. Thirteen people were arrested Thursday and more than $1 million were seized in a major drug bust that stretched from Athens to Atlanta. Copyright 2022 KWTX. Volusia County Sheriff's Office (WKMG 2021) VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Sixteen people were arrested over a couple of days in a series of drug busts that resulted in fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine . 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. Timothy Neal Nyquist, age 36 of Temple; and Your IP: Aaron Carter's mother has released graphic photos from the scene of his death as a ploy to motivate law enforcement to investigate the incident further. This drug organization trafficked two of the deadliest substances we are seeing in our community fentanyl and methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The DEA said the amount seized in Dallas equated to 20 percent of all the meth found in 2020. The first big drug bust was July 8 at the Paso del Norte . All rights reserved. Federal agents arrest more than a dozen local residents named in drug trafficking and firearms indictments, 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. When drug overdose deaths are nine or fewer per year, the state does not . The haul was the largest meth bust in North Texas's history. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance with the arrests. 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. OTAY MESA, Calif. - Clay pots, jicama, and furniture all had one thing in common for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Otay Mesa's cargo. (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 . The cause, the Republican governor said, is President Bidens border policies, which have caused a crisis for those in the region. Its the largest, that Im aware of, methamphetamine bust, McNamara said during a press conference Monday. Pompano Beach, FL 33062. Operation No Warning began in June 2020, according to FDLE . The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas. 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 Garcia-Perez, 33, agents seized a kilogram of fentanyl or heroin, 80,000 pills of suspected fentanyl, and 2 firearms. One additional defendant was arrested today with 2 pounds of methamphetamine, three rifles, and a shotgun. Barton was previously arrested. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris will be prosecuting the cases. In total, nearly 30 pounds of cocaine, half a pound of meth, more than a pound of brown heroin, three ounces of black tar heroin, two ounces of Fentanyl, $330,000 in cash, nine firearms and three . "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. 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. Ryan Howard, spokesman for DPS. 27, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, Brady . The U.S. Attorney's Office said both amounts would be the largest seizures of either drug in the U.S. in both 2020 or 2021. . This federal grand jury indictment charges 31-year-old Annie Rose Lewis of Temple with one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The White House did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment on the matter. Federal authorities arrested 21 individuals yesterday, including several Central Texans, on federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, Drug Enforcement . And while they were at it, they grabbed 65 vehicles, nearly 200 animals, and close to . While meth and cocaine are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants that increase activity in the brain, opioids like heroin reduce nerve activity in the brain, producing a euphoric and calming high. A man named Hector Manuel Castro-Quirino, 47, and his girlfriend Vanesa Ann Cervantes, 38, were residents of the two-bedroom home. 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. 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. U.S. "We take one of these seizures and try to expand the network, try to identify perhaps what other ones have gotten through.". In the biggest drug bust in Liberty Countys history, the DEA seized $1 million worth of methamphetamine in a home at County Road 2191 off FM 787. Barton, who was arrested earlier, faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Kayli Marie Guthrie of Temple, 21, is named in an indictment charging possession of a firearm by a convicted felon that alleges she was in possession of a .45 caliber Colt handgun on May 21, 2020 after she was convicted on March 27, 2020 in Bell County of possession of a controlled substance and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Additionally, on August 17, 2021, law enforcement seized 22 pounds of methamphetamine that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji. In 2011, Lewis was convicted on federal charges of manufacturing counterfeit currency. Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27ab7d5bde3e31 25 kilograms of meth seized in Cloverleaf area, Texas DPS says. 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. The most recent tally shows they found 6,000 pounds of meth, increasing the street value to about $1 million. Stimulant abuse involving cocaine and meth has also remained high. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. We can help! This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Speaking to reporters at a presser Thursday, Gov. The DEA has been contacted for further comment. Federal, state and local officials held a news conference in Punxsutawney Tuesday to announce charges against several area residents allegedly connected . Barton was already in custody when the indictment came down. The DEA is offering a $10 million reward for the capture of the cartels leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho. Updated: Jun 22, 2021 / 11:41 AM . Drug ledgers were also found, which contained customer and payment information, in addition to 14 firearms, some of them loaded. Trisha Ann Sanchez, age 40 of Temple. The distribution of drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl into the state is an ongoing problem, and it seems like authorities are constantly the biggest drug busts in Texas. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a kilogram of cocaine, half a kilogram of methamphetamine, 14 firearms, and nearly $1.6 million in cash during a drug bust in southeast Dallas, Texas. Carlos Avila, age 38 of Buckholts; 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. Lock The objectives of this operation were to hold those accountable for the menace of illegal narcotics trafficking, and the violence associated with it, which has plagued our communities for far too long in the state of Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest, stated DEA Special Agent in Charge, Frank Tarentino. 2021 / 8:48 AM / CBS Texas . Cocaine, Meth, & Firearm Drug Bust in Dallas. Approximately four kilograms of cocaine, roughly seven kilograms of methamphetamine and half a dozen firearms were seized during the investigation. All rights reserved. The indictment alleges that on December 21, 2020, Lewis possessed a .380 caliber pistol. 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. Agents swarmed a house at around 7 a.m. Thursday on FM 2271 just north of the Miller Springs Nature Center on the edge of Lake Belton in Temple, as part of the enforcement action. Teams from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Dallas, Fort Worth, Mansfield and River Oaks police departments were a part of the joint operation. 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. During the January 5 bust led by the DEA Amarillo office, more than 25 guns were also seized. This story has been shared 154,083 times. Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023. Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick face between 10 years and life in federal prison upon conviction because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams. The indictment alleges that on May 21, 2020, Guthrie was in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun. Hopefully, these idiots are going to get some tall sentences, McNamara said. 0:55. In the fourth federal grand jury indictment, 21-year-old Kayli Marie Guthrie of Temple is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The indictments also named Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, 34 of San Juan in Hidalgo County. One operation began with a street level narcotics seizure. However, when authorities showed up at the home in question, they found more than they were anticipating. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. On March 27, 2020, Guthrie was convicted in Bell County for possession of a controlled substance less than one gram and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to court documents. / CBS Texas. Screenshot from Bexar County Sheriff video. Frank Medina Jr, age 43 of Temple; That's more than 16 tons of chronic.