Feds targeting heroin trafficking in Denver area make 54 arrests
Feds targeting heroin trafficking in Denver area make 54 arrests
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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection K-9 unit waits to check vehicles crossing into the United States from Mexico on September 23, 2016 in San Ysidro, California.
By KIERAN NICHOLSON | knicholson@denverpost.com
PUBLISHED: September 23, 2016 at 6:11 pm | UPDATED: September 23, 2016 at 6:16 pm
A three-month federal operation in the Denver area targeting illegal heroin trafficking ended in 54 arrests.
Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement specifically targeted immigrants who are in the state illegally, according to an ICE media release.
“This was the first ICE operation of its kind in Colorado that was designed to specifically target” heroin trafficking by immigrants here illegally, the release said.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, assisted ICE in the operation, which ran from May 31 through Sept. 2.
“In the past several years, much of the heroin resurgence in the Denver area can be traced to criminal aliens smuggling, transporting and distributing this illegal drug,” ICE special agent David A. Thompson said in the release. “The resources, expertise and law enforcement authorities of our law enforcement partners effectively worked as force multipliers in this operation.”
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Some of the suspects arrested have prior drug and other criminal convictions in the Denver area and had been deported, according to the release, before returning to Denver and again being arrested.
ICE did not release Friday the amount of heroin seized in the operation.
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