by Colorado – Federal authorities in Colorado announced a massive drug seizure this week, revealing that more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine were confiscated following a two-year investigation into a trafficking organization with alleged ties to major Mexican cartels.
Officials say the operation disrupted a sophisticated supply chain that had moved large quantities of drugs into the state using commercial produce shipments and interstate bus routes.
Two-Year Investigation Leads to Indictments and Arrests
According to the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office, 15 individuals were indicted as part of the investigation, which targeted a drug network believed to be operating directly from Mexico. Of the group, 11 suspects have been arrested, while four others — including the alleged leader — remain at large and are believed to be in Mexico.
At a federal news conference, Dave Olesky, special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), confirmed that investigative findings pointed to connections with organized crime groups in Mexico.
“The investigation revealed ties to elements in Mexico involving the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels,” Olesky stated.
He did not take questions from reporters, and a DEA spokesperson declined to provide further detail.
The Sinaloa and Jalisco crime organizations — named after the Mexican states where they were originally based — have long been among the most powerful cartels operating across the Western Hemisphere. Both were recently listed among eight Latin American groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. administration.
Over a Half-Ton of Meth Hidden in Produce Shipment
Federal court records reveal that most of the methamphetamine — 1,115 pounds — was found in April on a property in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. Investigators discovered the drugs hidden in the corners of boxes of pear squash, which had been imported from Mexico shortly before the seizure.
The arrest affidavit describes the seized narcotics as representing millions of individual doses, highlighting the large-scale distribution efforts behind the operation.
Authorities believe the group moved drugs into Colorado under the cover of routine commercial produce shipments, disguising contraband within legitimate cargo to evade suspicion.
Additional Shipment Intercepted on Greyhound Bus
Another significant component of the drug bust occurred months earlier, in December, when nearly 100 pounds of methamphetamine were discovered on a Greyhound bus traveling through Vail, according to the affidavit. Investigators were monitoring communications tied to a suspected dealer and obtained a warrant to track a cellphone believed to be coordinating drug movement.
Based on real-time tracking, agents positioned themselves in Vail ahead of the bus’s arrival. The shipment, federal officials say, was intended to reach the greater Denver area for sale and distribution.
U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly confirmed that the December seizure was directly connected to the same trafficking organization dismantled in the Lakewood bust.
Federal Officials Call the Operation a Major Break in Drug Supply Chain
Authorities emphasized that the investigation succeeded in disrupting a significant entry point for methamphetamine into the region. Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Marv Massey said the collaborative efforts across agencies were essential in targeting the flow of narcotics before they reached local communities.
“This is one supply chain that needed to be broken,” Massey said during the announcement.
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The long-running investigation involved coordination between DEA agents, federal prosecutors, the FBI, and multiple law enforcement partners across Colorado.
What Comes Next in the Case
With 11 suspects now in custody, federal prosecutors are preparing for what could be a lengthy criminal process. The four suspects still believed to be in Mexico remain the subject of active pursuit, though officials did not confirm whether U.S. authorities have requested assistance from Mexican law enforcement.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional seizures or arrests are expected in connection with the investigation, but they noted that they continue to examine communications, financial records, and transport logs tied to the cartel-linked group.
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