6 kilos of cocaine seized in drug bust

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Tuesday, September 20, 2005

By EMILY MORRIS

The Daily Sentinel


Six kilograms of cocaine were seized from a vehicle traveling through the Grand Valley on the way to Chicago last week, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Grand Junction High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

Task force agents arrested Delfino Rodriguez-Torres, who was contacted by task force agents Friday while he was pumping gas in Fruita. Rodriguez-Torres drew law enforcement’s attention after he was seen making a sudden exit from Interstate 70, according to the DEA.

Rodriguez-Torres gave agents permission to search his Ford Windstar minivan, and they discovered the cocaine hidden in two rear loudspeakers, the DEA said.

Rodriguez-Torres identified himself with a Mexican identification card, according to the DEA. He allegedly told agents he was paid $1,000 to drive the cocaine from Tucson to Chicago.

According to the DEA, six kilograms of cocaine have a street value of about $718,000.

Rodriguez-Torres is accused of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, the DEA said, and if convicted, he could face more than 10 years in prison.

The DEA task force is comprised of officers from the DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Junction Police Department.


Emily Morris can be reached via e-mail at emorris@gjds.com