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Drug overdoses whether it's opioids or other types are preventable," she said. "We really do this for a lot of reasons. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. On Tuesday, the Center Police Department shared an update on the bust. 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Federal indictments that were unsealed Wednesday name 30 defendants at least 24 have been arrested for their roles in two separate drug organizations that were involved in weekly high volume narcotics trafficking, according to Phillips. Associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. Eight of the 19 people indicted in the trafficking ring remained at large Wednesday, officials said. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Updated: Oct 8, 2020 / 07:49 PM MDT . The other people indicted face charges ranging from conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute and money laundering. Four others are in Mexico and one is at large in the U.S. Peel saw 191 fatal drug overdoses in 2021 -- up from. By Shelly Bradbury. Arthur Mills, 59, was arrested on Thursday, according to the Denver Police Department. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Colorado Springs made a big drug bust in Fountain thanks to the help of K9 officer Sugar. IRS Special Agent in Charge Amanda Prestegard said, Its crucially important to include a financial component in investigation of drug related crime. Cannabis is a big business and there's a lot of consumer demand for it, so the competition for a limited number of licenses is really stiff. Then if you only had the perspective of the drug smuggling group, it would be skewed in another direction. The fentanyl is believed to have been manufactured south of the U.S. border, and smuggled into the U.S. and eventually brought to Colorado. Drug Enforcement Administration Denver Field Division, Photos from the DEA show thousands of fentanyl pills and several pounds of meth seized in the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization, Colorado law enforcement officials announce arrest of 64 in international drug trafficking ring, Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Then approaching alleged members of this group was a whole other path that I had to go down. DENVER (CBS4) - The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver metro area. First and foremost is we don't want people to die preventable deaths. First published on February 19, 2020 / 10:59 PM. Then on the law enforcement side, it's like, "Oh, well, this is absolutely justified because these people are so dangerous.". 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. DENVER (CBS4)- Denver public health officials are warning residents about a recent increase in deadly overdoses, specifically those linked to fentanyl, and a quickly changing drug supply. There are some states that just don't have a legal market, so by definition, the only place where you can buy cannabis in those states is "the black market.". You can listen to the first three episodes hereor listen in the player below. So what this group did is they all registered as caregivers and then pooled all their pot together. of cocaine, 5 lbs. I had to make a lot of decisions about what was a fair way to portray certain situations. So, the state's stayed tight-lipped about this for about four years, but I knew that I if I could ever get access to some of the operatives who were allegedly involved in this group, as well as get the law enforcement side, it would just be a fascinating insight into how black market groups operate. Officials say Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo is from Mexico and was in the country illegally. With a big bust like this one, there are almost always an array of charges involved. Four people have been arrested following a major drug bust on the Western Slope, the Grand Junction Police Department said Thursday. You can find more resources about fentanyl at www.denvergov.org. Provisional data from 2021 indicates that fentanyl is present in nearly 50% of all accidental drug-related deaths in Denver, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and. Law enforcement identified the shop as Supreme Auto Body which was not. Polls show that two thirds of Americans favor recreational pot and around 80% favor medical marijuana. It was a collection of all these college friends and their family members that came from Minnesota to Colorado to hide undercover in the legal market. Police seized fentanyl, meth, firearms, and more than $5,000. So, the law enforcement side, that's easier to answer. Following a drug bust in Colorado this week where 110,000 counterfeit pills cut with fentanyl were seized, one Front Range District Attorney is calling for revised laws surrounding the drug. Malik Beasley. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The answer is probably no. 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. According to the three and information from the attorney generals office, the 64 people who have been charged saw Colorado Statewide Grand Jury indictments against them returned between October 2019 and Thursday. WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - The North Metro Drug Task Force arrested two men for allegedly selling drugs from a home after receiving more than 100 complaints. Are other banks to follow? And it was just shocking the size and scale of this black market operation. Additionally, the defendant must be an organizer, supervisor or manager of at least five other persons connected in the same activity, and obtain substantial income or resources from the series of violations, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn said. Moreover, it would answer this main question in my mind, "If Colorado had a seemingly thriving legal market, why would you take risks to set up this massive black market operation?". So, in Denver, there are over 600 cannabis cultivation facilities. Devin Booker sulked. "The influx of fake prescription opioids is a growing and deadly concern for this office. Three people have been charged following a major bust at two residences in West Nipissing in which police seized illegal drugs with a street value of more than $8 million. That included nearly 35 pounds of meth, nearly 10 pounds of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Chinese electric vehicle brands expand to global, Qantas names chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson, These are the last days to access free COVID tests, No-knock warrant restrictions advance in Colorado, AP source: Broncos pick up Jeudys fifth-year option, Cron powers Rockies to 12-4 win over Diamondbacks, Former Broncos players daughter drowns in pool, Avs forward Cogliano fractured neck in Game 6, Witnesses describe Commerce City road rage shooting, Le Creuset just launched a dreamy new color for spring, Our fitness expert weighs in on this years top spring, Picnic-planning ideas for the spring season, Bill to extend Medicaid coverage heads to Polis, Floods reported along I-70 near Hanging Lake exit. Had these pills reached the streets, thousands of unwitting end users would have been at significant risk of overdose and death. October 9, 2022 at 11:49 a.m. Law enforcement seizes 110,000 fentanyl pills, 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), Colorado House plans revival of Polis gutted zoning reform bill, Law enforcement seizes 110,000 fentanyl pills from Denver-area stash houses; 19 indicted in trafficking ring, A drug of mass destruction: Fentanyl deaths surge in Colorado, reaching an average of two fatalities a day, Fatal drug overdoses surged 59% in Colorado last year as overall deaths rose during the pandemic, Colorado drug dealer gets 5 years for selling fatal dose of fentanyl, Four arrested in connection with shooting outside Aurora mall, Mesa County, health contractor to pay $2 million after 27-year-old dies of epileptic seizures in jail, 14-year-old girl missing from Denver found safe, Driver dies, passenger survives fatal Corvette rollover crash that forced closure of northbound I-225, Forty-two percent of illicit fentanyl pills tested by the DEA nationwide, according to the Colorado Health Institute. At a news conference on Wednesday, the District Attorney's Office for the 18th Judicial District announced the grand jury indictments of 19 people in connection with a drug-distribution ring crossing several counties -- including Arapahoe, Douglas, Denver and Jefferson counties. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Chinese electric vehicle brands expand to global, Qantas names chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson, These are the last days to access free COVID tests, No-knock warrant restrictions advance in Colorado, AP source: Broncos pick up Jeudys fifth-year option, Cron powers Rockies to 12-4 win over Diamondbacks, Former Broncos players daughter drowns in pool, Avs forward Cogliano fractured neck in Game 6, Le Creuset just launched a dreamy new color for spring, Our fitness expert weighs in on this years top spring, Picnic-planning ideas for the spring season, Bill to extend Medicaid coverage heads to Polis, Floods reported along I-70 near Hanging Lake exit. The officials said most of the drugs were transported through ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border and made their way to Colorado in vehicles with concealed compartments. Investigators at a news conference Wednesday said they connected the weapons recovered at the houses with violent crimes, though the defendants are not charged with violent crimes. This criminal enterprise was responsible for poisoning our community and furthering the opioid and meth epidemic but today our community is safer, Phillips said. Along with the drugs, law enforcement officials seized 28 guns, rifle-rated ballistic vests, 100-round drum magazines, armor-piercing ammunition and three hand grenades from the houses. 11 people now facing charges after months-long investigation involving police in Winnipeg, B.C. Between 2016 and 2020, the number of fentanyl deaths has increased tenfold. All rights reserved. Project Corredor began in Autumn 2019, Belanger said, and culminated when search warrants were carried out beginning in early 2020. DeAngelo was booked on 23 charges related to drugs, violating bond and unlawful possession of a weapon. So, let's start from the standpoint of someone trying to start a large, illegal marijuana grow. Law enforcement connected the trafficking to seven residences spread across the metro area, including homes in east Denver, Commerce City and Thornton, according to the indictment. / CBS Colorado. DENVER Sixty-four people have been charged in Colorado for their alleged involvement in what officials called an international trafficking and money laundering ring that dealt with fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and firearms, according to law enforcement officials. Drug overdose deaths have increased 30% nationwide. How much of that was present in the initial media coverage surrounding "The Syndicate" drug bust? Mexican cartel elements such as this criminal enterprise are directly responsible for the steady high rate of overdose deaths in the United States from both opioids and methamphetamine. You some, some people didn't want to talk about this, some people believe they were subjected to overzealous law enforcement and some people, you know, wanted to just sort of address the errors of their pasts and express remorse for what they had done. I mean, how did you balance wanting to spotlight the work law enforcement did, while also giving voice to people on the other side of this bust all without feeling like either side was playing you? It's not as simple as walking down to the county clerk and getting a permit. June 17, 2020 at 5:33 p.m. Officials with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force arrested six people and seized methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, pot, counterfeit . Authorities seize drugs, 17 guns and $44,000 cash in Larimer County drug ring bust. Andrew Cogliano out for Game 7 with fractured neck after Jordan Eberle's hit leaves Avalanche miffed at lack of suspension, Denver airport makes Food & Wine's list of top 10 U.S. airports with best restaurants, Celebration of life for Alexa Bartell, killed by rock thrown through windshield, draws hundreds to Arvada church, Skier killed in avalanche near Breckenridge, With Andrew Cogliano out for rest of Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kraken's Jordan Eberle discusses hit that fractured Cogliano's neck, Colorado lawmakers "belly flop" on water crisis, opting for further study of Colorado River over action, experts say, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The massive bust was a collaboration between Carroll County, New Hampshire and Maine. September 3, 2021 / 3:46 PM DENVER A woman who's accused of being the ringleader of a large drug ring operation in the Denver metro area has been charged as a kingpin, a charge rarely sought, federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon. What are some of the policy issues that you're hoping people maybe do consider if they're listening to "The Syndicate"? Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. Undercover agents set up two buys from one of Romos associates, Saul Ramon Rivera Beltran, and purchased heroin, fentanyl and meth, according to the indictment. Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who is in the U.S. illegally, was arrested at her home in Aurora last week and charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE), also known as drug kingpin charge. ------------------------------------------. December 30, 2020. Daniel Valentine, 42, was arrested in the bust that happened last week. This impressive collaboration between law enforcement agencies is a true success story for making our entire community safer.. He was in the Denver County jail as of Friday night. . I mean, California is experiencing problems on that front because weed is so heavily taxed there that many people are still choosing to use their street dealer rather than buying it a dispensary. If you're doing that in a state like Minnesota, you have a couple options. two thirds of Americans favor recreational pot and around 80% favor medical marijuana. This is a part of the story that is told very differently depending on who you talk to. Authorities arrested five people in connection with an alleged . 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. So I approached the state and say, "Hey, I can tell you spent a lot of resources and time on this investigation, and I want to help you spotlight the work that you did, and also find out what this says about the black market.". After the indictment announcement, authorities said two others were arrested in connection to the drug trafficking ring. I think there's this misconception that in an era of increased marijuana legalization that there's less "need" for a black market, or that smuggling is on the decline but what is the reality of the situation? Please enter valid email address to continue. Tell me a little bit about how you became acquainted with the story that's presented in "The Syndicate." This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Right. Thats why addressing this crisis is a top priority for our office, Weiser said in a statement. But that's not to say that there isn't also a thriving black market in states that have legalized weed. So the idea of being a small "mom and pop" operation and starting from humble roots pardon the pun is just not feasible in many places. I think it is an argument for taking cannabis off the schedule of drugs, or at least getting it out of Schedule I drug classification at the federal level. Was that a fear of yours? The influx of fake prescription opioids is growing and deadly concern for this office and law enforcement community as a whole. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. They seized almost a pound and a half of suspected cocaine, a slightly larger amount of a substance believed to be meth, more than a quarter of a pound of suspected ketamine, 32 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 60 tabs of LSD, 36 pills of Xanax and 53 Ritalin pills. Well, and something that I found interesting about this reported podcast is that there are a lot of flashy details like, skydiving drug mules, buried bags of cash, partying, cocaine. Police arrested the alleged drug dealers in Colorado, Arizona, and California. That includes carrying naloxone with you. Public health officials advise anyone who uses substances or knows someone who uses substances to not only share this warning but to also take tangible steps to help prevent deaths. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. North Bay -. Drug bust - definition of drug bust by The Free Dictionary Had these pills reached the streets, thousands of unwitting end users wouldve been at significant risk of overdose and death as weve seen too much of already in Colorado, Dunn said. Agents said Colorado communities are safer now with the seized drugs and weapons off the streets, but the work is far from over. Under the caregiving program, they could grow up to 500 plants. EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Detectives pulled off a major drug bust in the Eagle Vail area, arresting Matthew DeAngelo at a home. Four of the remaining suspects are in Mexico, and the fifth is on the run in the United States. So in many states, including Colorado where this story is based, they've actually handed down a lot of control over the cannabis industry to local municipalities and cities. Right, so the reality of the situation is that weed is still illegal at the federal level, and not all states have legal weed. The investigation first started in March 2019 after a tip from law enforcement in Las Vegas, Reuter said. Milinovich said as of July 31, Peel Region has seen 71 overdose-related deaths, 80 per cent of which are suspected to be linked to opioids. I mean, it thoroughly dismantled this group. US to lift most federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, Aurora golf course using scooters as golf carts, Judge blocks Missouri rule that would limit transgender, Denver Public Schools releases draft safety plan, Boulder gets funds to improve school street safety, Mom gets $2 million in jail death of disabled son, Stepmothers web searches revealed in murder trial, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, Set of quadruplets set to graduate from MSU together, Polis rolls out plan to curb property taxes, 4 arrested after shooting outside Southlands Mall, Denver restaurant closes after 50 years in business, When to water: A guide to Colorado lawn, garden health, Report: Students drew swastikas after Holocaust presentation, Denver weather: Storm chance every day this week, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 1.7 pounds of fentanyl tablets approximately 8,000 to 10,000 pills. DPS says it has plenty of mental health professionals after school board directive to add more, Wyoming won't give wolves to Colorado; CPW doesn't know where it will get them, Isolated storms Tuesday; 70s here to stay. In 2018, an average of nine Coloradans a month died of illicit fentanyl overdose. Those in custody are being held on a $500,000 bond or greater. by: Deborah Takahara. You could try to do it inside, but that requires huge amounts of electricity and then you have to deal with the huge amount of waste that comes with harvesting cannabis. One of the questions that is raised in "The Syndicate" is about how the medical marijuana system can be gamed, like it was by thealleged ringleaderTri Nguyen. All are facing numerous charges for possession and distribution of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The reason for that is that one personally actually went on the lam and it took until 2019 to locate him in North Carolina and prompt extradite him back to Colorado. Defendants face charges including racketeering, distribution of controlled substances and money laundering. They also found four firearms, two of them stolen. On that note, you mentioned that you knew early on that you wanted to speak with people on both sides you know, growing and distributing, and then on the law enforcement side. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? I mean, I do some editorializing at the end of this show. The 2020 rate of 25 deaths per 100,000 people is 39% higher than the rate recorded in 2019 and triple the rate from 2000. of heroin and 15,000 fentanyl pills. Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who lives in Aurora, was charged as a federal drug kingpin. The following criteria must be met to charge someone as a kingpin, according to Dunn: "It's a very rare occurrence, a very serious occurrence and not a charge we take lightly," said Dunn. 1,143 grams of cocaine 2,931 grams of synthetic cannabis 1 litre of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) $60,010 cash Eight people have been charged and more than a quarter million dollars in drugs and cash. (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. Would we have as much black market activity, and would a group like this have been able to pull off the feat they did, if we had just across-the-country legal cannabis? Ontario Provincial Police unveiled details of the investigation and a display of the evidence seized during operation DAYTONA in Ottawa Thursday Jan 30, 2020. The DEA began its investigation in April 2021. ", RELATED: Fentanyl-laced tablets linked to 8 overdoses in Northern Colorado. A Boogie wit da Hoodie (nee Artist Dubose) - Dec. 7; the Bronx, NY-born rapper was arrested at his home in Demarest, NJ and charged with possession of marijuana and several handguns; two other men were also charged; had a No. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. And then in conjunction with what I was saying earlier, too, they could establish their warehouse right next to the hundreds of legitimate ones that are spread throughout the city. DEA Denver Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky said a year ago, a large seizure would have been anywhere from 5,000-10,000 . For me as a journalist that specializes in narrative stories, I feel like some of those details are necessary if you're really going to delve into a lot of policy angles and bigger picture questions about the law and justice in the United States. TORONTO - Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug . Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The indictment does not mention the cartel, though it said Beltran received a call from a Mexican phone number and discussed drug dealing with the caller. It was all about greed and making money, said David Olesky, acting special agent in charge of the Denver Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. of methamphetamine, 4 lbs. In his new podcast "The Syndicate," journalist Chris Walker goes beyond some of the case's flashy details, speaking to both the members of the criminal organization and the law enforcement agents who took them down, and uncovers how the push for legal marijuana in some states actually drives up black market demand nationally. Agents identified Beltran as the leader of the group. Every single person was different,so those conversations were always interesting for me to test out. Some of those details did come out in the initial media coverage and press conference around the bust in 2015. The first batch of people were prosecuted by Weisers office and the 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office in Jefferson County, and two more series of indictments were filed in Adams County and are being prosecuted by the officers of Weiser and Mason. On May 9, several law enforcement agencies collaborated to arrest 25 individuals for drug trafficking and to issue charges to 12 others in a huge methamphetamine drug bust. You know, how can I work with this individual to get their story out there in a respectful, but also truthful way, to make sure that I wasn't getting spun as well? It sounds like a movie. The unforgiving cycle of methamphetamine and opioid addiction is causing catastrophic damage to American families. "DEA lab testing revealed, on average, 2 out of every 5 pills laced with fentanyl contains a potential lethal dose," said David Olesky, DEA Denver Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge. . Whenever we take drugs off of our streets, we make our community a safer place in which to live, Mason said in a statement. The state of Colorado expanded the program in 2008 and quickly registered so many caregivers that the state couldn't really monitor what each and every one of them was going. And then even if you have legal dispensaries, you'll also need to ensure supply and then also have a competitive price. In response to this data, DDPHE urged caution around drugs bought from any source other than a pharmacy, as those drugs could contain fentanyl and vary greatly in strength and contents. Most of the drugs came from Mexico and have a street value in the "millions of dollars," according to Dunn. Updated: 10:33 PM MST February 19, 2020 DENVER A woman who's accused of being the ringleader of a large drug ring operation in the Denver metro area has been charged as a kingpin, a.

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