DEA Seizes 670,000 Fake Pills in Major Drug Bust Spanning New Mexico and Colorado
A tip from an alert citizen led to a significant drug seizure involving federal and local law enforcement in New Mexico and Colorado Springs. According to a news release issued Monday by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the operation resulted in the confiscation of approximately 670,000 counterfeit pills and other drugs.
The investigation began when two individuals traveling by bus from New Mexico to Denver raised suspicion. “The men became nervous, and one fled, leaving behind two large suitcases,” the DEA reported. The Albuquerque Police Department responded and secured the abandoned luggage. A search warrant revealed the suitcases contained around 330,000 counterfeit pills and two ounces of heroin.
The second suspect continued to Denver but was intercepted by DEA agents in Colorado Springs with the assistance of the local police. A K9 unit detected narcotics in two additional suitcases and a backpack. Authorities confiscated another 340,000 counterfeit pills, believed to contain fentanyl, along with several thousand dollars in cash.
“This is a prime example of ‘see something, say something’ working to protect communities,” said Jonathan Pullen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division. “As a result, 670,000 fake pills are now off the streets of Colorado and New Mexico.”
The suspect, identified as a fugitive Denver resident wanted on drug trafficking charges, has not been publicly named.
Michael Allen, 4th Judicial District Attorney, praised the collaborative effort. “This operation underscores the deadly impact of fentanyl and our commitment to holding traffickers accountable. Clearing drugs from our streets is a vital step in protecting our community,” he said.
The DEA highlighted the significance of the bust, noting that the pills seized in this operation represent 25% of all fentanyl pill confiscations in Colorado for 2023. “The amount is almost enough to provide every resident of Denver with a counterfeit pill,” Pullen added.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez emphasized the ongoing battle against fentanyl’s devastating effects. “Fentanyl is a nationwide epidemic that takes innocent lives every day. Operations of this scale demonstrate the importance of cooperation between law enforcement and the bravery of community members willing to take action.”
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis and protecting communities from the escalating threat posed by counterfeit drugs.