US Customs and Border Protection reported a 1,066% increase in the amount of fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2021 in south Texas, the agency said this week in a press release . 25 kilograms of meth seized in Cloverleaf area, Texas DPS says. 27, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, Brady . 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. We can help! 0:00. 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. Major Susan Cotter (@HCSO_Patrol) September 1, 2021 This is no Tenaha PD joke-of-a-bust . File photo showing packages of methamphetamine crystals. The data, however, overwhelmingly shows that migrants were flooding the border because they believed Biden would welcome them with open arms. The DEA has been contacted for further comment. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in February 2020. 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. . Sign up below to receive 10% OFF your entire order! While officials would not confirm how many people were arrested, they did say they believe the narcotics are from a cartel. Drug Trends in Texas 2021: A Report to the National Drug Early Warning System Jane Carlisle Maxwell, Ph.D., Research Professor Emeritus Highlights Texas has 254 counties and, as of 2020, a population of 28,995,881 with 42% White, 40% Hispanic, 12% Black, and 5% Asian. . McNamara said it was a team effort, and had a message for the citizens of McLennan County. "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. The bust . Denison police make largest drug bust ever. (Denison Police Dept.) Approximately four kilograms of cocaine, roughly seven kilograms of methamphetamine and half a dozen firearms were seized during the investigation. The first indictment charges 16 Central Texans with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Showing 1 - 10 of 10953 results. Sign up and receive email updates on the latest news, events, and more! Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton; 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. More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. 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. Both were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. Drug ledgers were also found, which contained customer and payment information, in addition to 14 firearms, some of them loaded. Barton was already in custody when the indictment came down. A man named Hector Manuel Castro-Quirino, 47, and his girlfriend Vanesa Ann Cervantes, 38, were residents of the two-bedroom home. Carter's body was discovered by his housekeeper. The 34-year-old singer was found dead in his bathtub in November 2022. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in seven shipping containers late Monday night, officials said. The second operation began with the investigation of a stolen vehicle parked outside a business. Let's put the drug bust into perspective. Jose . 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 most recent tally shows they found 6,000 pounds of meth, increasing the street value to about $1 million. In total, more than 1,930 pounds of meth stuffed into 663 packages were pulled from the vehicle. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. 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. 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. Marshals returned to Brady on Tuesday morning in an attempt to stop the gigantic drug ring that is supplying narcotics across Texas according to sources with the federal court system. 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 first indictment charges 16 Central Texans with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The drugs were coming up from California and were being distributed in King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason and Kitsap counties. Speaking to reporters at a presser Thursday, Gov. Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. Authorities believe the drugs may have come from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. 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. Oliphint was arrested Thursday, April 15, 2021. 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. According to new data provided by the Texas DPS on Thursday, Operation Lone Star has seized 160 pounds of fentanyl within its targeted area. Aug 31, 2021 Updated Dec 7, 2021. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Seattle A series of arrests over the last ten days has disrupted a multi-state methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas There was a major methamphetamine bust in Liberty County overnight, and the sheriff's office there believes it might be the biggest one ever in the county's history . SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. The indictments were unsealed Friday, April 16, 2021, in Waco. Deputies confiscate $1.3 million worth of heroin and other narcotics in major drug bust. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Investigators did not reveal the name or location of the business or say where the alleged meth lab was located. 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 . Aware of some of the groups trafficking, law enforcement seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020. Indictment #4 U.S. v. Kayli Marie Guthrie 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. February 27, 2023. Annie Rose Lewis of Temple, 31, was also named in an indictment charging one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm that alleges she possessed a .380 caliber pistol on Dec. 21, 2020 after she was convicted in 2011 in federal court of manufacturing counterfeit currency. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. 54 Individuals Indicted for Roles in Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine "Dangerous drugs have devastated too many communities throughout our state and claimed too many lives," said Attorney General James.. "As New Yorkers and Americans across the country witnessed the greatest number of drug overdose deaths in history in 2020, the defendants here were allegedly . In that time, DPS seized a staggering 95 pounds, enough to administer 21.5 million lethal doses. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. (KELO) -A major drug bust Tuesday night in Sioux Falls involving potentially dozens of deadly doses of fentanyl. These arrests are a significant step for community safety.. Indictment #3 - U.S. v. Lori Oliphint. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Joe David Beck, age 50 of Temple; Our officers for the McLennan County Sheriffs Office, Waco PD, DPS and other agencies are out there working around the clock overtime to protect them and get these kinds of drugs off the streets, out of the hands of the bad guys, and lock up the perpetrators, said McNamara. March 27, 2021 3:10 PM in News. Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen; Copyright 2022 KWTX. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. 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 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 . Lewis is accused of possessing a .380 caliber pistol on December 21, 2021. Eight additional firearms were seized at search locations in Washington and California. But then they got word it had started again. The remaining defendants face between five years and 40 years in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Ashley Nicole Sutton, age 31 of Belton; The DEA said more than 1,930 pounds of meth were found stuffed into 663 packages in a hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. Press Release. All complaints and concerns are fully investigated by corporate compliance and corrective actions are implemented based on substantiated allegations. Additionally, on August 17, 2021, law enforcement seized 22 pounds of methamphetamine that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji. 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. After the tractor was referred to a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, 43 packages containing 113.89 pounds of cocaine were found in the trailer. Members of the ring tried to trade drugs for firearms ones they could transport to Mexico contributing to terrible violence south of the border. Heroin is one of the many opioids that have contributed to the increasing rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. 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 The indictment alleges that on November 11, 2020, he possessed at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. 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. The fifth federal indictment charges 31-year-old Annie Rose Lewis of Temple with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. "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. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. An indictment should not be considered evidence of guilty. The operations resulted in the confiscation of some 451 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and 192 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine, or a total of 1,414 pounds. The 18-month investigation revealed the drug trafficking organization was also distributing drugs to locations in the Southeastern United States including Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee. 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. Lock "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. Below is a list of recent Texas drug busts that have seized record amounts of drugs. "No doubt, this got his attention. Authorities believe the drugs may have come from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. A seizure like this, he most likely got a phone call," Chavez said. Federal authorities arrested 21 individuals yesterday, including several Central Texans, on federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, Drug Enforcement . November 11, 2021 / 11:37 AM / CBS Texas 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 . Lori Oliphint, 43, of Temple was named in an indictment charging possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Nhan Thanh Vo, 38, was charged with one federal count of . Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name. Chavezs bond was set at $50,000 and and he bonded out on June 9, 2022. These indictments are an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 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. Bobby Quinton Gentile, age 43 of Holland; The seizure totaled out to $3.4 million of meth. Carlos Avila, age 38 of Buckholts; However, when authorities showed up at the home in question, they found more than they were anticipating. The haul was the largest meth bust in North Texas's history. The 32 kilos of narcotics seized have a street value of $2 million, police said. 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. Timothy Neal Nyquist, age 36 of Temple; and I dont remember this amount of meth being taken before, its a huge amount.. 2021 / 8:48 AM / CBS Texas . BRADY, TX - Nearly 30 people were arrested in Brady Friday morning during a drug trafficking sting operation led by the Drug Enforcement Agency. These smaller bags wouldve been used for drug distribution. The east lane of FM 2271 was closed for several hours, and authorities funneled traffic into the west lane of FM 2271 on both sides of the Lake Belton Dam. 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. The indictments also named Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, 34 of San Juan in Hidalgo County. 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. / CBS Texas. An official website of the United States government. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27ab7d5bde3e31 Updated: Jun 22, 2021 / 11:41 AM . Sheriff's say after an investigation and surveillance they located a lab where liquid meth was being converted into crystal meth. They are buying a death sentence, Abbott said. Newly sworn-in Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia is praising his Narcotics division and SWAT for a recent drug bust. 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. During the January 5 bust led by the DEA Amarillo office, more than 25 guns were also seized. Another 44 pounds of meth were seized in a stop on April 2, 2021, and 83 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fentanyl pills were seized in a traffic stop on September 28, 2021. bust in U.S. history, finding more than 5,528 pounds of the drug . Fifteen local residents --Jose Francisco Gutierrez, 33 of Killeen; Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, 30 of Nolanville; Bobby Quinton Gentile, 43 of Holland; Ashley Nicole Sutton, 31 of Belton; Wesley Warrick, 50 of Cameron; Carlos Avila, 38 of Buckholts; Joe David Beck, 50 of Temple; Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, 33 of Belton; Aleah Freitag, 29 of Rockdale; Kimberly Lee, 26 of Gatesville; Colton Lane Lewis, 30 of Temple; Angela Loy, 32 of Temple; Frank Medina, Jr, 43 of Temple; Timothy Neal Nyquist, 36 of Temple; and Trisha Ann Sanchez, 40 of Temple--are named in indictments alleging they conspired since January 2020 to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas.. 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. LIKE 25 NEWS KXXV ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LATEST CENTRAL TEXAS STORIES. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The DEA has seized a record 20 million fentanyl pills nationwide this year, including more than 9.5 million in Arizona alone. The indictment alleges that on May 21, 2020, Guthrie was in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun. It was at that location where officials say they found more than 190 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine, and nearly 60 kilograms of crystal meth. If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, call us now! 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. It is between 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. (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. BRADY, TX - U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly 200 pounds of illegal drugs and arrested 23 fugitives last week. Oliphint, who was arrested Thursday, faces as much as 20 years in prison if convicted. The bust was made Wednesday, June 8, at a home on Park Avenue in South Waco. According to the indictment, Guthrie was convicted on March 27, 2020, in Bell County, for possession of a controlled substance less than one gram and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Other drugs seized within that area include marijuana . 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 5:18 PM on Jun 11, 2021 CDT. If convicted, Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick face between 10 years and life in federal prison because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Click to reveal 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. 2023 Banyan Treatment Centers. Newly endangered milkweed could stop Texas border Officials are still not naming the people arrested in case this hinders future drug busts. 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. 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. 2:00 AM on Feb 3, 2021 CST. 0:55. 51.79.248.208 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. The indictment alleges that on December 21, 2020, Lewis possessed a .380 caliber pistol. 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. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. Aleah Freitag, age 29 of Rockdale; Today, law enforcement made additional arrests of the distribution network: Angelique Marie Easton, 51, Bremerton, WA, Douglas Bryan Healer, 47, Port Orchard, WA. The six indictments, returned by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on August 24, 2021,were unsealed today (August 31, 2021). Your IP: Guthrie is accused of being in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun on May 21, 2020. It happened this week at . Indictment #1 U.S. v. Gutierrez, et al. The home was being used as a conversion lab where meth is turned into the raw, liquid form, making it more difficult for agents to detect.