10 arrested in bust that yields drugs, guns, cash from northern Colorado crime ring

Haul includes oxycodone, fentanyl pills and 12 firearms

By JOHN AGUILAR | jaguilar@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: September 13, 2019 at 6:49 pm | UPDATED: September 13, 2019 at 6:50 pm

Authorities this week seized heroin, meth, opioids, weed, cocaine, mushrooms and an assortment of firearms — and arrested 10 people — from a criminal ring operating along the northern Front Range, a news release from the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force stated Friday.


The task force conducted an eight-month probe, dubbed Operation Malverde, into the criminal enterprise and executed search warrants across northern Colorado on Tuesday.

Authorities seized nearly 38 pounds of methamphetamine, 108 grams of heroin, 5 pounds of marijuana, 213 oxycodone and fentanyl pills, 11 grams of mushrooms, 6 grams of cocaine, 12 rifles and handguns and $13,000.



Those arrested in the operation include residents of Denver, Campion, Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, Berthoud, Lakewood and Cheyenne. Together, they face more than 120 felony charges, including money laundering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, DUI and resisting a peace officer.

The task force said several suspects remain at large, including Ismael Ivan Mojica-Garcia, who is a cell head in the Sinaloa drug cartel and is considered armed and very dangerous. He drives a blue 2010 Chevrolet Corvette with temporary Colorado license plate 1103924.
Authorities caution people to not approach Mojica-Garcia, if spotted. Instead, call 911.

Operation Malverde got help from local agencies, including Larimer County Regional SWAT, Fort Collins Police Services SWAT, Loveland Police Department SWAT, Jefferson County Regional SWAT, Aurora Police Department SWAT, North Metro SWAT, Denver Police Department SWAT, Denver Police Department and the Windsor Police Department.

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/lo...ng/2169024001/