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Authorities seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine in Minneapolis this week in what officials say is “one of the largest meth busts in Minnesota history.” The St. Paul Police Department teamed up with federal partners and the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team to execute the historic mission.
‘Staggering’ Amounts of Meth Confiscated
Authorities seized 960 pounds of meth found in two vehicles and arrested two men who are currently being held in the Hennepin County Jail.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office revealed on Wednesday that they charged two men, Guillermo Mercado Chaparro (44) and Joel Casas-Santiago (46), with first degree drug sales. Casas-Santiago faces one count and Chaparro faces two counts.
Charges filed in Hennepin County divulged that the two men were found with almost 900 pounds of meth.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County Attorney, said the amount of illegal drugs seized was “staggering.” She mentioned that the suspects are “associated with larger drug sales organizations in Mexico,” and the two men don’t have ties to the Twin Cities.
Moriarty made clear that “These drugs were on our streets in huge quantities and nearly made it into the hands of our neighbors who struggle with drug use. The damage 900 pounds of methamphetamine could have caused is devastating, all while funding drug trafficking networks that prey on our community. We will work to hold these two individuals accountable to protect our community.”
If sold by the pound, the recovered drugs would retail for about $1.7 million on the street.
Facing Extended Prison Time
If the suspects are convicted, they face 65 months in prison or more than five years of incarceration. According to the county attorney’s office this is the statutory minimum for first degree sales.
As stated on a social media post on Tuesday from FBI Director Dan Bongino, the seizure and arrests were part of “a hit targeting drug trafficking rings you’ll hear about soon.” It’s unclear if federal charges have been filed yet against the men.
Several Twin City locations were the targets of federal raids in June, which were prompted by the discovery of 900 pounds of meth in a storage unit in Burnsville, Minnesota.
If you or someone you love is struggling with crystal meth addiction or other substance use disorders, there is help.
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