CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News . It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. February 21, 2023. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Video above shows members of the Nueces County District Attorney's Criminal Interdiction unit looking for hidden drug cartel cash inside this vehicle. At the time, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said it was the second-largest bust ever, behind only a 5,000-pound bust in December 2019 in Laredo, Texas. Sign up below to receive 10% OFF your entire order! Lewis was arrested on Friday, April 16, 2021. 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 . You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. / CBS Texas. We can help! Unaccompanied minors, they surge the border, Border Patrol officers get fully occupied simply processing, the people coming across the border, he continued. 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. Denison police make largest drug bust ever. 950 N Federal Highway (Denison Police Dept.) Packages containing 114 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan, Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen, Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, age 30 of Nolanville, Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton. The U.S. 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. 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. 51.79.248.208 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. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 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. The indictment alleges that on December 21, 2020, Lewis possessed a .380 caliber pistol. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The agencies within the TAG came together and worked together and were able to find these drugs and get them off the street so McLennan County did great here also working in conjunction with the TAG, and so were just thankful for the work that they did to remove these drugs from getting in childrens hands, or anybody elses hands., Sheriff McNamara said the estimated street value of the methamphetamine seized is in excess of $530,000. Both were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. Trisha Ann Sanchez, age 40 of Temple. "I see a lot of lives saved when we can stack up kilograms of drugs like this on a table," Chavez said. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Click to reveal BATON ROUGE - On Saturday deputies shutdown a large drug operations near S . U.S. 0:00. This federal grand jury indictment charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan; AUSTIN (KXAN) More than 20 people from in and around Austin were arrested Thursday on federal drug trafficking charges, according to the Department of Justice. Updated: Jan. 6, 2021 at 1:53 PM PST. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Lewis has a 2011 federal conviction for manufacturing counterfeit currency. Note: Internet Explorer has problems displaying the following charts. We've received your submission. Sign up and receive email updates on the latest news, events, and more! When drug overdose deaths are nine or fewer per year, the state does not . The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in February 2020. Officials say after getting a search warrant some 393 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was found inside. Officials are still not naming the people arrested in case this hinders future drug busts. DPS and HPD bust suspected drug lab in NW Houston . 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 . As Mayorkas denied the existence of a crisis, Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador blamed the new president for it, arguing that the expectations he set left migrants with the perception that they would be let into the US. 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 . Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is prosecuting these cases. These indictments are an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. It happened this week at . We knew there was a possibility there would be quite a bit of dope there, but that is a huge quantity of methamphetamine, said McNamara. A man named Hector Manuel Castro-Quirino, 47, and his girlfriend Vanesa Ann Cervantes, 38, were residents of the two-bedroom home. The others were arrested over the past two days. One operation began with a street level narcotics seizure. The second indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Liberty County officials were asked to assist in a search warrant led by the DEA out of Houston to seize what they estimated to be $500,000 worth. The DEA and our partners are focused on the most dangerous criminals in Washington. "They were like sausage links. These arrests are a significant step for community safety.. During a traffic stop involving a refrigerated tractor-trailer, law enforcement found 1,950 pounds of drugs (worth about $45 million), making it the biggest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly 200 pounds of illegal drugs and arrested 23 fugitives last week. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The White House did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment on the matter. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. 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.. Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America, Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General, Find Help and Information for Crime Victims, Register, Apply for Permits, or Request Records, Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement, USAO/WDTX Media Relations New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest . of Public Safety. This federal grand jury indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with possession with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. The CPS said that the cocaine has an estimated street value of $878,220. 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. The indictments also named Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, 34 of San Juan in Hidalgo County. 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. Seattle A series of arrests over the last ten days has disrupted a multi-state methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. Texas couple accused of dealing fentanyl to minors, causing 3 deaths. The amount of drugs seized was so large, a hazmat crew from the Houston Police Department were called in to assist.4, Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations conducted what they claimed to be the largest meth seizure in Houstons history. While the problem began to emerge in 2020, during which the states Department of Public Safety seized 11 pounds of fentanyl, it exploded in the first four months of 2021, Abbott explained. In January 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administrations Dallas division reported the largest methamphetamine and heroin seizure in the branchs history. An apartment complex with twin buildings in one of Dallas' most crime-infested neighborhoods served as a major drug distribution hub that was both ruinous to the . All Rights Reserved. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. "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 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. This is the real deal, with big guns and a large amount of cash and ammunition seized. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. March 27, 2021 3:10 PM in News. The 34-year-old singer was found dead in his bathtub in November 2022. The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fianc, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. Im just proud of our officers and the work they put together with other agencies We want to make it as difficult as we can for them to get their dope.. If convicted, he faces between 10 years and life in federal prison. 2:00 AM on Feb 3, 2021 CST. The most recent tally shows they found 6,000 pounds of meth, increasing the street value to about $1 million. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP . By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV November 19, 2021 at 7:22 pm EST. Indictment #1 U.S. v. Gutierrez, et al. 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. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. This federal grand jury indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with possession with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. This is a highly addictive drug that can lead to mental illness, increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and more. On Tuesday, January 26, CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a tractor hauling a shipment of toilet paper arriving from Mexico. Guthrie is accused of being in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun on May 21, 2020. The DEA has been contacted for further comment. One additional defendant was arrested today with 2 pounds of methamphetamine, three rifles, and a shotgun. The indictments were unsealed Friday, April 16, 2021, in Waco. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. Please enter valid email address to continue. Colton Lane Lewis, age 30 of Temple; 3. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says a drug operation at the home in the 100 block of Trudell was first broken up a few weeks ago when Deputies were delivering a warrant. 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. November 11, 2021 / 11:37 AM According to new data provided by the Texas DPS on Thursday, Operation Lone Star has seized 160 pounds of fentanyl within its targeted area. Showing 1 - 10 of 10953 results. Aware of some of the groups trafficking, law enforcement seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020. It is unseen to the general public, but importantly, this unseen thing coming across the border is deadly dangerous, Abbott explained, referring to the drug. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a . If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Lori Oliphint, 43, of Temple was named in an indictment charging possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Posted: Jun 21, 2021 / 04:36 PM MDT. 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 Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland . Various people working with law enforcement provided information regarding the drug distribution activities. Well, in addition to the people coming across the border, there is something else crossing the border. Cocaine, Meth, & Firearm Drug Bust in Dallas. Read More. The Mexican cartel is largely responsible for drugs like cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine in Texas and the rest of the United States. The indictment alleges that on November 11, 2020, he possessed at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. Let's put the drug bust into perspective. Timothy Neal Nyquist, age 36 of Temple; and This drug organization trafficked two of the deadliest substances we are seeing in our community fentanyl and methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Our services include 24-hour medical supervision and counseling to ensure that our patients are safe, healthy, and getting the resources they need to get and stay sober. 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. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. 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. 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Today, law enforcement made additional arrests of the distribution network: Angelique Marie Easton, 51, Bremerton, WA, Douglas Bryan Healer, 47, Port Orchard, WA. Barton was already in custody when the indictment came down. 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. This federal grand jury indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Biggest bust: More than $500K in meth off Central Texas streets, 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. Heroin is one of the many opioids that have contributed to the increasing rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. Guthrie was arrested on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The bust was made Wednesday, June 8, at a home on Park Avenue in South Waco. On Feb. 16 around 2:15 p.m. a DPS trooper stopped a 2021 . usatxw.mediainquiry@usdoj.gov. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in seven shipping containers late Monday night, officials said. These smaller bags wouldve been used for drug distribution. . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The group is accused of conspiring to distribute multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas since January 2020. The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. The bust . 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 . During the January 5 bust led by the DEA Amarillo office, more than 25 guns were also seized. Drug ledgers were also found, which contained customer and payment information, in addition to 14 firearms, some of them loaded. . Carter's body was discovered by his housekeeper. "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. Its clear that Bidens open border policies are unleashing deadly consequences right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Abbott told the room of reporters. On Wednesday, January 27, 20 packages containing 51.49 pounds of cocaine discovered were also found in a tractor manifesting a shipment of kitchen cabinets coming in from Mexico. Drug Bust. "We continue to seize these large amounts of drugs, and what we want our constituents to know and the good citizens of Tarrant County to know [is that] this is a clear and present danger to us until we continue this fight," said Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn. 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.