Three Arrested in Aurora Drug Sweep. She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. The Justice Department is assisting Ukraine in an investigation into war crimes committed by Russia. Sizemore collapsed at his home in Los Angeles last month after suffering a brain aneurysm. Had these pills reached the street, thousands of unwitting end users would have been at significant risk of overdose and death as weve already seen too much of lately in Colorado.. The trafficking ring funneled their profits back to Mexico, sometimes by smuggling undeclared bulk cash shipments, according to the indictment, which said members bought property in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, to try to keep the money from being seized by U.S. authorities. Obviously with the nexus of I-25 and I-70, Colorado seems I think to have a disproportionate share of interstate drug trafficking that flows through our state, Dunn said. We can help you keep up. "We are not asleep at the wheel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. CBS News Colorado has learned that a veteran Denver police lieutenant is under investigation after he struck and killed a pedestrian. Denver police and firefighters responded to an apartment at 8330 Quincy Avenue for a suspected drug operation. Example video title will go here for this video. So it was essentially meant to throw off anyone who might have seen that, Dunn said. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports are the primary drivers of the recent increase in opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. It has arrested 65 high-level defendants and confiscated 500,000 fake fentanyl pills, 360 pounds of meth, 104 pounds of cocaine and taken nearly 200 guns off the street that were tied to drug operations. AURORA, N.C. (WNCT) A drug bust by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office resulted in three arrests and the seizure of more than half a million dollars worth of drugs. Police shared the following details about the large amount of drugs that were captured: - 179 pounds methamphetamines - 43 pounds. Another option for Fire TV is to have the appdelivered directly to your Fire TVthrough Amazon. The Colorado Avalanche have seen a lot of success as of late, and they are now clearly in the NHL's upper echelon. President Biden had basal cell carcinoma removed from his chest, the White House shared. February 21, 2023. Colorado law enforcement officials said Wednesday that millions of lives may have been saved after several months of undercover investigation into those suspected of distributing illegal fentanyl. 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. Fentanyl pills, previously known as "blues" because of their blue color, are now available in pink and white. According to 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner, about 200,000 fentanyl pills were recovered during the investigation along with 9.4 lbs of heroin, 1 kilogram of cocaine, four guns and. Colorado will be caught between a high pressure ridge to the east and a deep low pressure trough to the west. Youth are especially vulnerable, Besser said, as they are targeted on social media to purchase these drugs creating an unparalleled accessibility.. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio . 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. "I hope to return to the Senate later this month," the retiring senator said in a statement. The police investigation into Mills led police to search two homes, one in the 3000 block of North Race Street and another in the 12100 block of Amherst Circle in Aurora. The influx of fake prescription opioids is a growing and deadly concern for this office and the law enforcement community as a whole, he said. The record haul from last months bust was packed into 48 one-kilo blocks. Colorado had more drug seizures, per pound, from 2017 through 2021 than any other state in the country the second state was California. 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. Adams County Sheriff's Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, Aurora Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Commerce City . Most opioid addicts dont seek out fentanyl due to the extremely high risk of incurring a fatal overdose, Dunn said. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I have never seen anything like the current drug crisis, Besser said. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Scout Motors picks South Carolina for new $2B EV. On Tuesday, a local mail sorting center contacted police after co Come Wednesday, families will be receiving their SNAP benefits without the additional emergency allotments they've been getting for the last three years. Today our community is safer, Phillips said. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until MON 12:00 PM CST, Lake County, Lake County, until MON 6:00 AM CST, Lake County, Kenosha County, is in effect, LaSalle County, Newton County, from SUN 6:00 PM CST until TUE 12:00 AM CST, Lake County, Newton County, Man charged in shooting death of Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso ordered held without bond, Services announced for Chicago Police Officer Andres Mauricio Vasquez Lasso who was killed in the line of duty, Replay Lincoln Park transforms into iconic 'Paddy's Pub', Lightfoot loses re-election bid, this is the date she will leave office, Man shot, seriously wounded while sitting in parked car on Southwest Side, Des Plaines man charged with attempted murder in motel stabbing, Jesse Wilson: Adoptive mother arrested in boy's death in Arizona, Cook County man charged with murdering woman he dated for 3 years, Chicago man charged in fatal South Shore shooting. Douglas. The latest reports from Denver Water show our snowpacks rounding towards their state averages already, and there are still two months of snow to go. Douglas 1 View. However, groups like Vallejo-Gallos are increasingly manufacturing the potent opioid to bump their profit margins by camouflaging it as more sought-after and expensive prescription pills. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. According to the 1999 and 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), 8.9 percent of individuals age 12 and over surveyed in Colorado reported having abused an illicit drug in the month prior to the survey compared with 6.3 percent nationwide. 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. (CBS4) - The U.S. Department of Justice says a drug strike force dismantled a major drug dealing operation which was working in Denver and Aurora. Lizalde and Angelique Torres, who were both in the car, are facing felony drug charges. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. Fentanyl pills are extremely cheap right now, officials said Wednesday. Drug kingpins dont always touch the drugs, but they do always touch the money.. Example video title will go here for this video. Two people got caught with an illegal psilocybin mushroom grow and other drugs in a Lyons home. When we take into consideration the worst possible outcomes of this poison being pushed out in mass in our communities, Ive never seen anything like this, ever. They then distributed the substances across the state. When bought in bulk, fentanyl pills that used to cost $8 to $10 can now be found for just $1. Aurora only hired 17 new police officers last year. March 11, 2022 / 7:35 PM The fentanyl flooding Colorado this summer is cheaper, now comes in pink and white, and is sometimes laced with the taste of monk fruit. Drug dealers are now resorting to innovative methods to flood the market with fentanyl-related substances so they can have maximum appeal to unsuspecting users, Besser said. 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. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than where we should be for this time of year. Its hard to keep the calculations updated in real time as the pills come in, he added. "They have a bunch of Alprazolam (Xanax) and oxycodone in with other peoples names on, the thing wrapped up in money sock full of money," an officer can be heard saying on bodycam video. Because of its central location, Colorado is now a critical trans-shipment hub in the West for drug smugglers, officials warned, and the price has become right. Its also very cheap to produce in either China or Mexico, Dunn said. Investigators say the group was dealing over two pounds (one kilogram) of heroin every week in Denver. AURORA, Colo. A 24-year-old man was arrested on drug charges late last month after a four-month investigation. The Colorado State Patrol discovered the 114-pound mega-haul hidden underneath a trap door beneath the front seats of a vehicle during a traffic stop. Vallejo-Gallo, who is in her early 40s, faces more than 50 counts, including the rarely levied charge of continuing a criminal enterprise or a drug kingpin charge, according to local U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. AURORA, Ill. - Eighteen people were arrested and charged with numerous illegal gun and drug related felonies in Aurora Wednesday. Major drug bust on 6/1/21 in Rio Grande County, CO. (Center PD) CENTER, Colo. (KKTV) - Authorities uncovered what were believed to be "operating drug distribution centers" in a small Colorado . Ive never seen anything like this. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The Albuquerque Police Department is trying to get to the root of the problem when it comes to violent crime . The incident followed a domestic disturbance, which was being investigated by the Burt County Sheriff's Office. Gov. 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. After another large bust, drug enforcement officials warn the public not to get weary of fentanyl news, Hondu Multiservicios, LLC at 6671 Federal Boulevard, according to the grand jury indictment obtained by The Gazette, Report: Reliever Brad Hand signs with Colorado Rockies, Jamal Murray's big second half serves as last laugh vs. old friend and Memphis Grizzlies, National park in Colorado ranks 4th most-visited nationwide, others rank much lower, Locals concerned about possibility of Colorado's 43rd state park, COLUMN: Pandemics bureaucrats betrayed our trust | Jimmy Sengenberger, EDITORIAL: Legislators want local heroin injection sites, Brewers' Bracket: Vote for your favorite Denver or Front Range brewery, DENVER GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Politics and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get the news that matters most delivered to your inbox, Colorado's fentanyl crisis: Full coverage, Alleged driver of record fentanyl haul in Colorado is MIA, Class-action suit filed against parental evaluator who said he disbelieves 90% of domestic violence allegations, Wine sales in Colorado grocery, convenience stores begin this week, In search of fairness: Tug-of-war between jury inclusiveness and juror impartiality reaches Colorado Supreme Court, Rent control bill heads to Colorado Senate with uncertain future, Colorado legislators kill 'fair workweek' bill requiring payment to workers for 'show-up time'. The study, the largest of its kind, compared former players against men of the same age and found that players who had concussions during their NFL careers scored worse on assessments of episodic memory, attention, processing speed and vocabulary. Here's what you need to know about this type of skin cancer. / CBS Colorado. The four weapons seized included an AR-15-style rifle and a 9 mm handgun, authorities said. Besser said a lot of drugs pass through Denver because of its central location, but he stressed that not everything is gloom and doom. DENVER - Following a two year criminal drug investigation, 54 defendants were named in four separate indictments charging various violations of the Controlled Substances Act, the United States Attorney's Office and the Metro Gang Task Force announced. Mills was arrested at the Race Street location. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Officials says 30 people were indicted. Federal, state and local law enforcement in Adams County announced on Friday the dismantling of a drug trafficking operation that has led to state-level indictments of 64 people, seizure of $931,000 in U.S, currency and 77,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, along with methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. They are available everywhere and can be obtained with little effort.. for the State of Colorado (19.3 percent) but is higher than the national rate (14.7 percent) (Figure 1). In 2021, she decided to return to local news. They also confiscated 9.4 pounds of heroin, a kilo of cocaine, four guns including an AR15 rifle and a 9 mm handgun, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Now: 1 location off miss & Peoria in aurora. In an effort to beef up hiring numbers, the city is reforming its hiring practices by adopting more relaxed standards. Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney John Kellner said at a press conference in the south Denver suburb of Centennial on Wednesday that across both cases in addition to the 200,000 fentanyl pills, officials found four guns, 9.4 pounds of heroin, 1 kilogram of cocaine and $60,000 in stolen merchandise. A bill at the state Capitol would make some of the biggest changes to the law since it was passed more than 50 years ago. iTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunes Google Play:http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n, HOW TO ADD THE FREE 9NEWS+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE. In the latest drug bust, authorities seized 200,000 fentanyl pills in an operation which was operating out of a business called Hondu Multiservicios, LLC at 6671 Federal Boulevard, according to the grand jury indictment obtained by The Gazette. #9news @9WantsToKnow pic.twitter.com/rW4LkXCrHr. 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. He is listed as the owner of El Rancho Market, also raided on Thursday. According to the documents, some of the drugs sold by Tapia-Rubio were brought in from Mexico, via California. Mills has gone before a judge and bond was set. Denver Health Officials Warn About Increase In Deadly Overdoses Linked To Fentanyl. Catherine Brooke Harrell, 28, was arrested for prostitution, felony possession of heroin and . Lieutenant Greg Spayth says the incident was a sizable bust that will keep these drugs off the street. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. Every single bust, and I hate to use that term, is making a substantive community impact on the life-saving front, Besser said. In my opinion, bulk fentanyl quantities like this hold the caliber of weapons of mass destruction-type concern when we take into consideration the worst possible outcomes of this poison being pushed out in mass to our communities, said Brian Besser, the special agent in charge of the DEAs Denver Field Division. Rocky Mountain DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Besser and 18th Judicial Attorney John Kellner said they called the press conference to let people know they are not "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to drug enforcement. This is part of a seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills in Aurora, Around 200,000 fentanyl pills were recently seized in a drug task force drug sting. Fentanyl is being mixed with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and illegally produced marijuana. Try plastic surgery for autographs, No cow needed: Oat and soy can be called milk, FDA, Fowl-free: McDonalds debuts plant-based McNuggets, Study hints healthier school lunch can reduce obesity, New Mexico considers roasted chile as official state aroma, Cloud-like meringues offer simple path to French royalty, MLB sets up local media group, could broadcast 17 teams, including, Mercer has goal, 3 assists as Devils beat Avalanche 7-5, Flurry of NHL trades continue with Avs, Canes making moves, Avalanche take winning streak into home matchup against the Devils, Jokic has 100th triple-double; Nuggets down Rockets 133-112, THURSDAY NEWS IN A RUSH: 10 top headlines and NewsMinute video, Francouz makes 27 saves, leads Avs to 3-1 win over Islanders, Black Vietnam vet at last getting his due: Medal of Honor, Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son. They pulled him over, smelled marijuana, and found the drugs and cash in the car. Dezmen Albritton. The availability and accessibility of fake pills (laced with fentanyl) right now is absolutely staggering. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. 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. Bulk fentanyl quantities like this hold the caliber of weapons of mass destruction-type concern, Besser said Wednesday. Inside the home, officials say they found more than 243 jars with THC oil/wax, more than 5.6 pounds . The big storm system from the southwest is still on track to move across southern New Mexico. Both Besser and District Attorney John Kellner stressed the fact that fentanyl pills are not only blue in color, but pink and white. The masked pills caused elevated concern among federal authorities, Dunn said. DENVER (KDVR) Police have announced a significant drug bust in Denver that turned up more than 200 pounds of drugs, including meth, cocaine, heroin, crack and thousands of fentanyl pills. Read More. Powdered cocaine is abused throughout the greater metropolitan area, and crack cocaine is abused primarily in northeastern Denver and in Aurora, just outside Denver. Illicit Drug Use. Dunn and Phillips praised the collaborative effort among a variety of federal agencies that helped to build the criminal case against the trafficking groups and to arrest two dozen alleged members. 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. (WEHT) Five people were put behind bars in Evansville after a suspicious package led to a large drug bust. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver area. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Investigators said it is believed the drug trafficking ring in Colorado has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Aurora Police said the investigation began in September after their narcotics team received a tip that Hernan Soria Ramirez was advertising illegal drugs for sale on social media sites. It's the largest drug case in recent history out of the Franklin County, Ohio, prosecutor's office and including 79 people indicted and more than $5 million of narcotics . Douglas County Sheriff Capt. 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. During the course of a year-long investigation into Vallejo-Gallos group, authorities seized more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of heroin, four pounds of cocaine and about 15,000 pills of fentanyl that had been disguised to look like prescription Oxycodone, officials said. In the last 20 years in Colorado, nearly 5,000 Coloradans died from a prescription opioid overdose. Jared Polis signed Colorado's new fentanyl accountability bill at a ceremony at the state Capitol in May the new law provides stricter criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of fentanyl and other drugs laced with it.