Latest news with #HighIntensityDrugTraffickingArea
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police seize enough fentanyl ‘to kill everyone in Portland twice,' arrest 46 in multi-agency trafficking crackdown
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A series of drug trafficking missions conducted in the Portland area earlier this year and involving multiple law enforcement agencies yielded 46 arrests and dozens of pounds of illicit drugs seized, authorities said. The missions focused on fentanyl trafficking and were conducted in the month of February. The multi-agency effort involved law enforcement entities on the local, state and federal levels. The crackdown is in response to fentanyl flooding into the Pacific Northwest from the Honduran-based Sinaloa Cartel, according to the Portland Police Bureau. AMR just short of county's compliance standards There was also $204,007 in cash seized, as well as 20 guns, 44 pounds of fentanyl powder and 2,507 fentanyl pills. The illicit drugs seized during the operation — which also included 22 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of cocaine and two pounds of heroin — was located in part thanks to the use of a K9 police dog. 'Fentanyl has no place in our city. Our partnership with local, state, and federal agencies makes our collective response stronger,' Portland Police Chief Bob Day said in a statement. 'This operation was a success, but it is only one step in a larger, sustained effort to keep Portland safe.' David F. Reames, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency Seattle Field Division, said the amount of fentanyl seized by his team and the other participating agencies could have yielded over 1.5 million lethal doses or 'enough to kill everyone in Portland twice.' 'Nearly all of those arrested selling drugs were illegally present in the United States,' Reames said. 'These same traffickers had been exploiting children by using them to sell dangerous drugs. The case today highlights our collective success in bringing some accountability to the criminals who sell poison on our streets.' In addition to the PPB and the DEA, other agencies involved in the recent fentanyl trafficking missions included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Also assisting in the operation was a special team as part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, whose participating agencies include the Oregon State Police and Homeland Security Investigations, among others. PPB Chief Bob Day said collaboration is essential when the challenge of fighting the drug crisis is this big. 'It makes me proud when I can see us come together across jurisdiction, across federal and state and county boundaries, and find a way to be successful to enhance the safety and security for all Portlanders,' he said. 'And that's what these results demonstrate.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-04-2025
- CBS News
2 Chicago men charged with drug trafficking in Lake County
Two Chicago men were arrested and charged accused of drug trafficking in Lake County. Yastin S. Zaragoza-Barragan, 27, and David Hernandez, 29, were both charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Zaragoza-Barragan received an additional charge of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm. The Lake County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Group —a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area funded task force—received a tip of the men trafficking drugs through Lake County. The group, along with the FBI Chicago Field Division agents, developed information that both were in possession of cocaine traveling through Lake County Friday afternoon. Zaragoza-Barragan and Hernandez were spotted traveling in a vehicle near Lake Forest, near I-94 and Route 60. Their vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation, and a Lake County Sheriff's Office Canine Team then responded. The K9 sniffed around the vehicle and indicated there were drugs inside the vehicle. Further investigation found there were two wrapped packages, each containing about one kilogram of cocaine, inside of the vehicle. Over 2.2 kilograms of cocaine were seized. Detectives also found a loaded pistol in the vehicle. Hernandez and Zaragoza-Barragan were both taken into custody. They remain held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing Saturday morning.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
MCSO: 5 arrested for allegedly trafficking guns, drugs on social media
The Brief Five people were arrested after the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said they were involved in selling drugs and guns on social media. While the suspects were being arrested, investigators reportedly found drugs, including 2,000 fentanyl pills. MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. - Five suspects were arrested after they allegedly used social media to traffic guns and drugs, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said. What we know In a Feb. 10 news release, the sheriff's office said investigators Valley-wide were able to identify and arrest five suspects accused of advertising fully-automatic machine guns online. "During the arrest, in addition to the weapons, dangerous substances including 2,000 fentanyl pills, small quantities of cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamines were confiscated," the sheriff's office said. They were allegedly trafficking those drugs as well. The suspects were identified as Luis Acevedo Machorro, Marcos Acevedo Machorro, Jennifer Rojas Madrigal, Andres Acevedo Dominguez and Jesus Garcia Barrales. Big picture view "The Maricopa County Drug Suppression Taskforce (MCDST) is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative which is a taskforce comprised of several Law Enforcement agencies including, MCSO, Buckeye Police, Tempe Police, Mesa Police, Surprise Police, Casa Grande Police, the Arizona Attorney General's Office, the Arizona Department of Corrections, and the DEA. Task Force investigations are focused on the disruption and dismantling of mid-to-highdrug trafficking organizations throughout the state," the news release said. What's next The investigation into this case is ongoing. MCSO says more charges could be coming.
