News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2005

DEA Task Force Reels in 7 Pounds of Meth
Drug Courier Caught Red Handed 

OCT 11--Grand Junction, Colorado- Today, Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Jeffrey D. Sweetin, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement SAC Jeffrey Copp, Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey, and Grand Junction Police Chief Greg Morrison announced the arrest of Juan Ramon Aispuro-Franco and the seizure of 7 pounds of methamphetamine from the Greyhound Bus Depot in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Members of the DEA Western Colorado Drug Task Force were present at the Greyhound Bus Depot located at 230 South 5 th Street, in Mesa County on October 4, 2005. DEA Task Force Officers utilized their expertise and training to identify a suspicious suitcase and obtained consent from the owner, Juan Ramon Aispuro-Franco to inspect the suitcase. DEA Task Force Officers located approximately 7.1 pounds of methamphetamine enclosed in the suitcase. The methamphetamine was separated into six separately wrapped bundles in pink plastic. The methamphetamine was seized and Mr. Aispuro-Franco was placed under arrest. Mr. Aispuro-Franco admitted to packing the luggage and told investigators that he was paid $2,000 to deliver the methamphetamine from Phoenix, Arizona to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mr. Aispuro-Franco was transported from the scene to the Mesa County Detention Facility and charged under Colorado State Law with Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, a Class 3 Felony; Possession of Scheduled II Controlled Substance, Class 4 Felony; and Special Offender-Importation, Class 2 Felony.

The DEA Western Colorado Drug is comprised of DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Junction Police Department.