SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On September 18, 2014, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 30 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Today...

PHOENIX - This Saturday, September 27, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and over 65 law enforcement partners will hold the ninth Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Arizonans can take their expired, unneeded, or unwanted prescription drugs to one of over 90 collection sites across Arizona between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On August 19, 2014, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 16 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The...

PHOENIX - On Aug. 18, 2014, Luis Enrique Villegas-Lugo, 40, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silverto 17.5 years in prison. Villegas-Lugo pleaded guilty on Feb. 25, 2014 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a...

PHEONIX - Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman announced that on July 31, 2014, John Cary Dean, 28, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayesto 6.5 years in prison. Dean pleaded guilty on Jan. 23, 2014 to two counts of possession with...

PHOENIX - - On July 23, 2014, Ambrosio Nunez-Lopez, 65, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbellto 10 years in prison. Nunez-Lopez pleaded guilty on March 18, 2014 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a felony. The Organized...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On July 16, 2014, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 10 defendants charged with distribution of a controlled substance for purpose of unlawful importation, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - - The Coast Guard seized more than 3,500 pounds of marijuana with an estimated wholesale value of $3.5 million and detained five suspected smugglers during a drug interdiction in the Caribbean Sea, Southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Michael Dacosta, Shawn A. Ally, Nolan E...

PHOENIX - On June 18, 2014, the final defendant was sentenced in connection with Operation Clean Green - a multi-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service. Hector Raul Ortiz-Tarazon, Sr. and his son, Hector Francisco Ortiz, Jr. ran a drug trafficking (DTO) that shipped...

TUCSON, Ariz. - U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA)Special Agent in Charge, Doug Coleman, today announced the seizure of 89 pounds of white heroin and the arrest of seven defendants as part of an 11-month investigation. The seizure marks one of the state’s largest heroin busts. The investigation coined, “Operation Smack Talk”...