In one community, Riverside County, California,fentanyl deaths have increased by more than 800 percent in the last five years. Over 2,014 grams, or 4.44 pounds, of meth were seized along with 20 firearms in Hot Springs and Garland County, many of which were in possession of convicted felons prohibited by law from having firearms, Lawrence, project director for the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, said in a news release. The trucks two occupants Felipe Genao-Minaya, 46, and Nelson Nunez, 52, both of Newark, N.J., were arrested on drug trafficking charges. Congressmen Jay Obernolte (CA-08) and Mike Garcia (CA-25) to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking that the federal government take action to address the growing crisis and prosecute illegal growers to the fullest extent of the law. As part of Operation Who's Next?, DTF agents began purchasing meth from a targeted group of individuals who were organized and led by a woman identified as Lessie Galo, 38, of Hot Springs. An undercover informant opened the motel room door, letting four police officers rush in for the drug bust. All Rights Reserved. Officials say over the course of the investigation, they were able to make numerous purchases of meth from Matone. Furthermore, chemical pesticides used at illegal grow sites can be deadly if ingested by children and adults and endanger local wildlife. This was a multi-state investigation involving law enforcement agencies in both Georgia and North Carolina. It took 18 months of daily intelligence updating to put the puzzle together. GARLAND COUNTY, Ark.- A man has been arrested after the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant. Several members of the organization, including Galo, were recently indicted by a federal grand jury in the Western District of Arkansas for violations related to the distribution of meth, Lawrence said. During arrests Tuesday, Chvez said 220 pounds of illegal drugs were seized including methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and deadly counterfeit prescription drugs containing fentanyl. Hot Springs Village Police Department. Image of items recovered from the search warrant executed at the Bucks Meadow Apartments, Wilfredo Sanchez and Ramiro Murillo Garcia. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 33 POUNDS OF FENTANYL ENOUGH TO WIPE OUT MASSACHUSETTS SEIZED IN BOSTON. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. This was just a non-stop, ongoing operation. Over the last two weeks, the Sheriffs Department has had two incidents where suspects at grow locations fired weapons at patrol deputies who were responding to nearby calls for service. All rights reserved. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. A million dollars in cocaine seized in Oakland County Sheriff's Office drug bust. During the execution of the search warrant, authorities arrested Matone, and found approximately half a pound of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. 2023 FOX Television Stations, New charges complicate Jalen Carters 'character' question, UGA football star Jalen Carter facing charges in fatal crash: What we know, Police investigating homicide in Lawrenceville, Sheriff's office fires deputy seen on video body-slamming man to ground during arrest, Delta pilots approve contract to raise pay by more than 30%, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Georgia elementary school principal charged with child cruelty, false imprisonment, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, CAU sophomore killed in shooting near AUC Catholic Student Center, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K. All rights reserved. July 9, 2021 / 10:14 AM / CBS News. Two men were arrested: Jesus Carrillo-Pineda, 31, of Philadelphia and Daniel Vasquez, 28, of Somerton, Ariz.. After pleading guilty, Carrillo-Pineda was sentenced to 10 years in prison and Vasquez was sentenced to six years. First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown said that one was filed May 8, 2019, against her and Anthony Stufflebeam for sale to a confidential informant with the second set of charges coming from the Sept. 2019 raid. Federal involvement in the fight against dangerous illegal grow operations. Also seized in the investigation were a 2004 BMW, a 2008 Mercedes, two revolvers, two rifles and two 9 mm pistols. San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department currently has 850 potential grow sites under investigation. An investigation revealed Galo's group was suspected of transporting and distributing significant amounts of meth in the Garland County area, the release said. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of The Sentinel-Record. The investigation of this organization ultimately led to the arrest of Galo and numerous other suspected leaders and distributors who were members of her criminal enterprise in Garland County. Officers located and seized 391.5 grams of cocaine, 92.9 grams of methamphetamine, 243.5 grams of heroin, 85.8 grams of marijuana, 22.5 grams of Xanax and $20,878 in cash in addition to drug. A news release from the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office states that . by Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. staff reports FAX 1.928.395.7789, $1.7 Million Seized by Cops In Dismantling Dallas Drug Ring, A large Dallas, TX marijuana trafficking ring, DOJ Seizes $1 Billion in Bitcoin Related To Silk Road Website, $3.5 Million Seized in Cash and Drugs at Truck Yard Near San Diego, Bombshell Report ICE Seizes Millions With Asset Forfeiture Laws, Drug Cartels Recruit Smugglers in High Schools and Bars, How the DEA is Waiting to Seize Your Cash, Police Can Seize Money and Property Without Criminal Charges. Illegal marijuana grows additionally consume between 11.4 and 36.3 million liters of water daily across California, contributing to water depletion as the state heads into what could be the worst drought in state history. How to fight rising energy costs amid PGW rate hikes, Philadelphia PD search for 2 suspects after crash, assault, shooting, House panel votes to advance bill empowering Biden to ban TikTok. Market data provided by Factset. nets 65 arrests. In 2021, almost 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses and poisonings, including tiny doses of fentanyl where victims were not drug addicts and often in their early teens. Over 500 local, state, and federal personnel were involved in the major bust in the Antelope Valley with over 200 warrants served. That made that intelligence so valuable.. District Attorney Rob Greene said the case originally started with the Warren County Drug Task Force (who) had made drug buys from people that were coming from The Farm. The Farm was on our radar.. Feds bust 21-year-old man who allegedly had 5,400 grams of heroin, 2,700 grams of meth in Garland home Angel Alderete of Garland, who told authorities he has ties to a Mexican drug ring, now . Operation Green Shield resulted in the following: 54 felony arrests, including 22 gang members 27 firearms seized, 7 of which were reported as stolen 2.1 kilograms of heroin, 211 grams of. A US attorney from the Eastern District of Texas announced the demise of the drug ring at a recent news conference in Garland TX. During that raid, local intel was invaluable.. Copyright Post Journal | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386, Jamestown, NY 14702 | 716-487-1111, originally started with the Warren County Drug Task Force (who) had made drug buys from people that were coming from The Farm. The Farm was on our radar., The nexus is made between all our drug intel and the Titusville gun intel,, Wed try to put that back into this puzzle,, Every piece of intel went some place in there., start looking at this as a global or larger issue rather than just The Farm being the problem., All of that intel was gathered by the Drug Task Force to our knowledge,, We supplied the ATF a packet with names, connections flow charts of how this is working, all on the drug end,, Where we were valuable there, we were identifying people via face and via recognition,, They (federal officials) dont know that. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Further inspection discovered nearly 254 pounds of fentanyl worth $3.5 million in a secret compartment, enough to kill 115 million people. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Photo from news conference announcing the seizure of 254 pounds of fentanyl at the Port of Nogales border crossing in Arizona. Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's . Due to their near-monopoly of fentanyl trafficking in the United States, senators like Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rick Scott (R-FL), as well as Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), have sought to have the State Department designate the Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations akin to the Islamic State, al-Quaeda, and Boko Haram. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department recently released public information on illegal marijuana grows outlining the dangers grow sites pose to both public safety and the environment. where this operation was . BENSALEM, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Bensalem police arrested two suspects and shut down an alleged drug operation running out of an apartment complex on Knights Road. We moved their case along a year in one meeting., Agents put their lives at risk and busted their rears, Greene said. The DTF is comprised of investigators from the Arkansas State Police, Garland County Sheriff's Department, Hot Springs Police Department, 18th Judicial District East prosecuting attorney's office and U.S. Due to their near-monopoly of fentanyl trafficking in the United States, senators like Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rick Scott (R-FL), as well as Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), have sought to have the State Department designate the Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations akin to the Islamic State, al-Quaeda, and Boko Haram. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A drug bust last year was hailed as the largest fentanyl bust in U.S. history254 pounds seized at an Arizona border crossing. As part of the operation, DTF agents began purchasing meth from a second organization led by a woman identified as Laurie Lee Hooks, 50, of Hot Springs, who was suspected to have ties to members of Mexican drug cartel members in Little Rock. A drug bust last year was hailed as the largest fentanyl bust in U.S. history254 pounds seized at an Arizona border crossing. The Farm doesnt cease. National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. SAN FRANCISCO SAW 150 PERCENT SPIKE IN FENTANYL-RELATED DEATHS LAST YEAR, REPORT SAYS. Garland County Sheriff's Office. The bust led to another seizure the next day of 11 more pounds of fentanyl at a home in Willingboro. Federal drug agents and police raided an apartment in Kew Gardens, Queens and seized 140 pounds of fentanyl on Aug. 1, 2017, enough to kill 32 million people. This past weekend our CBP officers were able to stop an enormous amount of these deadly narcotics from hitting our streets, Nogales Area Port Director Michael Humphries said. Warren County law enforcement were instrumental in uncovering the operation, which Chief County Detective Brian Zeybel described as run like a business.. After arresting Anna Baker, the agents obtained a search warrant to search her home and seized another 64 pounds of fentanyl. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, State leaders promote EV jobs to meet growing demand, Food pantry prepares for extra SNAP benefits to end, Paw Paw gives back to support firefighters family, Consumers works to restore power, hosts free breakfast, More Severe Thunderstorms Again South of Michigan, Back-to-back hurricanes more likely to happen. Inside the air conditioning unit for the trailer was all of the cash. 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