A tip resulted in a significant drug seizure in both New Mexico and Colorado Springs lately.
On Monday, the DEA issued a news release informing the public about the case. According to the federal law enforcement agency, someone spotted two persons acting suspiciously on a bus from New Mexico to Denver.
“The men became nervous, and one fled – but left behind two large suitcases,” according to the DEA news release. “The Albuquerque Police Department responded by seizing the two abandoned luggage. A search warrant for the luggage led to the seizure of about 330,000 counterfeit pills and two ounces of heroin.”
The DEA office in Colorado Springs was alerted to the Denver-bound bus and detained the second suspect within the city boundaries. The Colorado Springs Police Department’s K9 identified marijuana in the man’s bags and backpack. Approximately 340,000 more “fake pills” were seized, along with several thousand dollars in cash.
“This is a prime example of seeing something, saying something,” DEA’s Pullen stated. “As a result, 670,000 fake pills are now off the streets of Colorado and New Mexico.”
The DEA did not publicly identify the suspect in their news release, instead noting that he was a fugitive Denver resident wanted on narcotics trafficking warrants.
“The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is grateful for the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement agencies as they work to clear drugs off the streets and for their partnership in holding offenders accountable,” says 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen. “The deadly impact of fentanyl is a clear threat to our community and this incident makes plain our steadfast resolve to hold fentanyl death-dealers accountable.”
According to the DEA, the 670,000 phony pills collected account for almost 25% of all pill seizures in Colorado in 2023.
“The number of fentanyl pills seized in this case is almost enough to give every resident in the city of Denver one fake pill,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
“Removing fentanyl from our neighborhood remains a matter of life and death. “Fentanyl is an epidemic that has a deep impact on communities across our country and takes innocent lives every day,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. “Seizures of this size are only possible with the collaborative work with our partner agencies on the DEA Task Force and community members who are courageous enough to do something about it.”
Reference: Major drug seizure in Colorado Springs and New Mexico, 1 arrested
