Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE �” Five people were arrested this morning in Montrose and Telluride on allegations related to cocaine trafficking and weapons smuggling.

In all, agents and officers from several regional agencies seized 15 pounds of suspected cocaine and four firearms; the street value of the drugs exceeded $900,000.

Eric Christobal Sanchez, 34, of Telluride, Maria Vargas Gonzlaez, 33, of Telluride and Marco Antonio "Tono" Garcia-Garcia, 26, of Telluride, were arrested at gunpoint in Montrose near a retail business on South Townsend.

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Arrested in Telluride were Gilberto Garcia-Garcia, 34, and Enrique "Kiki" Hernandez, 21.

The arrests came as the result of months of investigation by the Seventh Judicial District Drug Task Force, San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, Telluride Marshal's Office, Mountain Village Police Department, Montrose Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Durango Police Department, Southwest Drug Task Force and Western Colorado Drug Task Force.

The investigation was launched after area residents complained of drug trafficking, officials said.

San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters said in a news release two Telluride businesses and two homes were searched under warrants.

He said investigators also believe the firearms were being purchased in the U.S. and sold in Mexico by some members of the drug ring.

Masters declined to provide details about the Telluride arrests.

Seventh Judicial District Drug Task Force Agent Jim Fuller referred information requests to Masters' news release.

Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn said investigators watched an apparent drug transaction take place in the Target parking lot and moved in.

He said the three suspects arrested in Montrose attempted to leave, so the the Montrose SWAT team blocked their vehicle. When they tried to back out, SWAT deployed a flash-bang distraction device and the task forces and DEA were able to pinch them off.

"I believe that's the largest single quantity that has been seized in the city limits of Montrose in the history of Montrose," Chinn said.

"This incident goes to show everyone the degree of the problem we are facing here. This cocaine wasn't going to be just staying in any particular area. It was going to be spread out to individuals throughout Western Colorado, maybe even further.

"For this much of this product to be out there, it goes to show what a huge, huge problem we're facing."

Comments

Rick James wrote on Jan 25, 2010 1:49 PM:

" It's a shame our mountain towns are being overrun by these drug-addict tweakers. I just got back from Durango and saw more snow going up people's noses than falling from the sky. "




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To Ridgway wrote on Oct 8, 2009 11:13 AM:

" KOTO radio interview with Sheriff Masters…He stated “they have found chemicals like” baby powder and antifungal powder” in the past, and that he did not know what was used to cut the coke in the recent bust yet.
Since then, they found one chemical used was… Mannitol : A Naturally occurring compound. Used in medicine as a diuretic and aid for testing kidneys. Used in the food industry as a free-flow agent, flavor enhancer and sweetener.
Originally associated with cocaine because its anti-caking properties. Now more likely to be seen in heroin, although the reason why is not clear. "




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Ridgway Co wrote on Oct 7, 2009 9:41 PM:

" After the "cocaine", was tested by the authorities, it was found to be extremely unpure, including baby laxitive and foot powder. Think about it before you cram that crap up your nose. "




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to brian wrote on Oct 7, 2009 7:39 PM:

" if the cops really wanted to, they could make 15 large drug busts per DAY in this city, PER DAY> this one was a headline grabber to appease all you flag wavers. this is a pin hole in the massive drug tire rolling over this city, WAKE UP! "




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Brian wrote on Oct 6, 2009 8:40 PM:

" All of you who are slamming the local law enforcement, you have no idea do you??? The money used to make this bust was specifically set aside for activites such as this one. The officials in this bust, You did a great job. Keep up the good work. Do not listen to what these people say. They have clue if the great deed that you did for this community. Keep it up guys. "




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cleanswer wrote on Oct 6, 2009 10:00 AM:

" wowser!! What is the world coming too? I bet u people wouldn't think it was a waste of money if 1 of your kids or spouses got killed in a drug related driveby!! "




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Cop wrote on Oct 6, 2009 7:43 AM:

" Three chears for "Involved". My feelings exactly "




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jm olathe wrote on Oct 6, 2009 7:35 AM:

" ok meh the avg. traff. stop costs 900 to 1000 $ recoup 150 lives saved countless just think meh , the life those agents saved making that bust could be yours "




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Involved wrote on Oct 5, 2009 1:31 PM:

" Yes they were all legal. Also they were sucessful business owners. They were also the type of people you would never suspect (wolves in sheeps clothing....so to speak)
I would rather pay to keep them off the streets than to pay for or go to a family members or friends funneral who's death was caused by them.
Rember that person you are talking to right now no matter how nice or what color thier skin could be a drug dealer, rapist, wife beater, or child molester, CRIME sees no color,age or gender. "




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Props wrote on Oct 5, 2009 11:50 AM:

" Keep up the good work guys. Job well done. "




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Nice Pre-judging on this site wrote on Oct 5, 2009 6:49 AM:

" For all of you going on about "illegals" and speaking english- These folks that were arrested are American citizens- born and raised in the US. Yes- they do have brown skin- and they speak english. When will people realize that not all brown skinned drug dealers are illegal aliens? "




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Chickenman wrote on Oct 5, 2009 6:23 AM:

" Legaly prescribed drugs kill more of us by far than all illegal drugs combined, not saying coke should be legal, its all about money, plain and simple... POCM "




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proud in Montrose wrote on Oct 4, 2009 12:39 AM:

" Thank you Law Enforcement for all that you do. Thank you for getting drugs and bad people off of the streets and away from our children. I can't understand how anyone who wants the drug problem to go away can make statements saying that any type of bust is a "waste of taxpayer money". I think you are all amazing. "




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TRUTH wrote on Oct 3, 2009 6:51 PM:

" 15 pounds is a minute portion of what the Cocaine Importing Agency brings in to the U.S. each year using your tax dollars. Drugs are the 2nd biggest industry in the world behind military industries. this bust is just enough to appease the anti-drug crowd for awhile, pat yourselves on the back one more time, while our govt smuggles another 5000 pounds in under your nose. see fromthewilderness dot com or read Crossing the Rubicon for insider information on how taxpayers fund the drug trade in america. "




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Legalize it wrote on Oct 3, 2009 10:38 AM:

" Wow! What a complete waste of time and money. I bet more money was spent paying the numerous law enforcement officials involved than the street value of the coke and 4 guns would have brought in. Plus what we are going to pay for them to stay in jail. What a joke! There are better ways to spend our tax dollars. Especially with the current state of the economy. I'm sure our schools would have loved to see some of that money. "




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dispensory wrote on Oct 3, 2009 9:19 AM:

" Ive been saying for years, give the druggies what they want, all the drugs they can possibly use, they will either kill themselves off or quit, either way the drug problem is closer to being solved than any govt program getting 100's of billions of taxpayer dollars each year has done. "




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great job wrote on Oct 3, 2009 9:13 AM:

" but the REAL dealers in town are unaffected and still walking the streets of montrose, so they hide their fancy cars and become a little less 'visible', one supplier was busted here, dealers have many suppliers, the beat goes on for montrose drug dealers. "




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Thank You wrote on Oct 3, 2009 9:13 AM:

" Great job guys and gals. I thank you for everything you do day in and day out. For those of you that think this operation may have been of too great a cost, remember that along with big drug busts come big seizures (money, vehicles, properties, etc.), which will probably more then cover the costs. Nice job law enforcement, you are doing an awesome job. "




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Thank You wrote on Oct 3, 2009 8:59 AM:

" Great job guys and gals. I thank all law enforcement for everything you do day in and day out. For those of you that think this operation may have been of too great a cost, remember that along with big drug busts come big seizures (money, vehicles, properties, etc.), which will probably more then cover the costs. Nice job law enforcement, you are doing an awesome job. "




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WAR on drugs wrote on Oct 3, 2009 8:04 AM:

" It's sad to see how many people have no idea what kind of negative impact drugs have on those involved. I see it nearly everyday. Every bit thats taken off the street helps those who are unable to help themselves! Good job to those of you who have the backbone to stand up to illegal drugs and good job to those of you who support and wish them well in the battle! "




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concerned res wrote on Oct 3, 2009 7:19 AM:

" meh,
I guessing that you are a drug dealer who is trying to get LE to start backing down. Because nobody with normal intelligence would make a statement like what you made. "




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April wrote on Oct 2, 2009 9:17 PM:

" Not all illegals bring DRUGS into this country! There are somo illegals that come to work and just that. This article talks about tax dollars and illegals whether working with a fake SSN number have to pay taxes also and its worse for them because when they retire they never get any of it back and never complain! GREAT bust! I hate the thought of drugs roaming our streets, bust please quit being racist people not all illegals bring drugs to america some illegals are just HUNGRY. What would you do for your hungry children????? "




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citizen wrote on Oct 2, 2009 7:34 PM:

" We don't know anything about the legality or illegality of those arrested. Those kinds of assumptions undermine the integrity of legal, hard-working ethinic groups everywhere, including every single one of our ancestors. "




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anti pc wrote on Oct 2, 2009 11:06 AM:

" Sure.. a few pounds of coke worth an estimated $900,000 dollars street value and all the violence and destruction of human lives that it leaves in it's wake. Yep..... complete waste of time, money and resources. Maybe if they would just set up a Medical Dispensary everything would be Okay. You know coke can be used for medicinal purposes. "




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To Meh wrote on Oct 2, 2009 9:47 AM:

" 15 pounds is A LOT of coke. That is almost 2000 "eightballs". Go ahead and act like it is a small amount. It will be felt in the area. Not to mention get these criminals off the street. "




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Meh wrote on Oct 1, 2009 4:49 PM:

" 11 agencies, thousands of man hours, and who knows how much money were spent busting 5 people for a few pounds of coke. Instead of patting these "officials" on the back we should be demanding a detailed accounting on exactly how they wasted such a huge sum of taxpayer money for such a miniscule impact on the fantasy they call "the war on drugs". "




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Bmel wrote on Oct 1, 2009 10:51 AM:

" Just look how many agencies were tied up for this bust against ILLEGAL's. That is American citizens hard earned tax money at work. The price tag would not be as high if immigration reform was inacted. Just read Mexican Illegal immigration laws, we should adopt them. Yes, just keep reading the blotter, you'll get the message!!
Thanks for a job well done LE!! "




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To Call it what it is wrote on Oct 1, 2009 9:26 AM:

" Amen! Why are a few people telling the majority of Americans what is right and wrong and racist. I dont care what color your skin is or what country you come from. If you want to me in America, apply like our ancestors did and come legally. Leave your drugs and flags at home. Speak the language of the country. What is so wrong with that? Instead someone is defending the people in this story??? "




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Call it what it is wrote on Sep 30, 2009 10:19 PM:

" Immigration was part of it. The drugs came from Mexico. Sounds like an immigration issue to me. Last I knew, immigration wasnt worried about us citizens and those who entered this county legally. It isnt racist, it is a fact. Nobody said they were Mexican, they simply said illegal. Stop defending criminals who break your countries laws if you are a good citizen. "




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In appreciation wrote on Sep 30, 2009 9:24 PM:

" Thanks for all of your hard work to keep those drugs off the street and away from our kids, our neighbors' kids, and our neighboring town's kids. Great job law enforcement!!! "




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us citizen wrote on Sep 30, 2009 8:39 PM:

" here we go again, critizing illegals i guess the more you read the paper not only illegals are being arrested for drugs, wake up montrose being racist, keep reading the jail blotters to ! "




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chris worthington wrote on Sep 30, 2009 6:10 PM:

" Hats off to the Sheep dogs that caught the Wolf! "




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Just Guessing wrote on Sep 30, 2009 6:06 PM:

" I am just guessing that they are all legal us citizens. Ha! We should deport all people who are illegal. Instead we are talking about giving them healthcare. What part of illegal do people not understand? If they dont care about the legality of their citizenship, they most certainly wont care about the legality of bringing drugs into our community. "




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