EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A Phoenix-area drug task force has arrested four suspects in connection to two separate drug deals involving large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from Mexico.
The first bust originated with a Feb. 20 phone call from a Mexican source of supply to a confidential Drug Enforcement Administration source. Court records show the trafficker offered to sell the source 40 pounds of methamphetamine at a wholesale price of $38,000.
The Mexican trafficker directed the informant to an address along North 35th Avenue in Phoenix, where a gray Acura TLX carrying two men later identified as Israel Sandoval Leyva and Omar Espinoza Villegas allegedly arrived with a load.
A criminal complaint filed Feb. 21 in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona alleges Sandoval confirmed to the informant he had the meth in the car, but that it was 10 pounds, not 40 previously agreed. Records show agents with the Phoenix Group 16 Dealers federal task force moved in, placed Sandoval and Espinoza in custody and seized a 5-gallon bucket in the Acura containing 10 plastic bags of methamphetamines weighing 4.6 kilograms (10.1 pounds).
Both men face a charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
A day later, an informant again told the DEA about Mexican traffickers offering to sell methamphetamine in Phoenix. This time, a delivery of 70 pounds of meth was arranged at a site on West Fairmont Avenue.
Agents equipped the confidential source with video and audio surveillance devices before the nighttime meeting. Court records show a man who introduced himself only as “Piña” approached the informant but said he knew nothing about a drug deal. The informant called the trafficker in Mexico in front of Piña, and the source of supply authorized them to talk.
Piña allegedly called one of his couriers and told her to bring the 70 pounds of meth in 45 minutes. He also told the confidential source he had 10,000 fentanyl pills for sale, if he was interested.
At about 9 p.m. on Feb. 22, a silver Honda Accord arrived at the location; Piña and two individuals later identified as Lucia Montoya Vicario and Cristian Gastelum Cervantes allegedly showed the DEA confidential source two black suitcases containing multiple packages of suspected methamphetamine and a clear plastic bag of suspected fentanyl pills, records show.
As the suspects allegedly transferred the drugs to the informant’s vehicle, multiple law enforcement vehicles arrived with emergency lights on and sirens wailing. Court records show Piña took off running and eluded apprehension; Montoya and Gastelum were apprehended without incident.
Court records show the suspects cooperated with authorities and led agents to a residence where more fentanyl and 42.129 kilos (93 pounds) of meth were found initially. A further search turned up 5.87 additional kilos (13 pounds).
Montoya and Gastelum face charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
According to the Department of Justice’s National Drug Intelligence Center, methamphetamine has long been a primary drug threat to Arizona residents. The meth primarily comes from Mexico, though it is also produced in the state and in neighboring California and Nevada.
Transnational criminal organizations (drug cartels) control the transportation and wholesale delivery of meth, though distribution is up to local criminal groups, gangs and independent dealers, according to the DOJ.
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