Law enforcement seized nearly 45 pounds of a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine last Friday in Longmont from a suspect believed to have ties to the cartel. Authorities say the seizure made a significant disruption to a major distribution of the drugs.

On Friday, Dec. 2, the DEA Rocky Mountain Division, in coordination with the Rocky Mountain HIDTA Front Range Task Force (FRTF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver Division, and the Longmont Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU) seized almost 45 pounds of a fentanyl and cocaine mixture and arrested one person with direct ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.

The suspect in the case, Alberto Reyes-Carrillo, is being held on $500,000 bond at a judge’s order despite the request of the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office of setting it at $1 million.

“The Sinaloa Cartel is one of two primary cartels responsible for flooding the United States with dangerous and deadly fentanyl,” said Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Rocky Mountain Division Brian Besser.  “This case is another example of how we continue to attack these networks at every level to save lives throughout the Rocky Mountain Division and beyond.  This operation was a success thanks to a truly collaborative effort on the part of our local, state and federal partners.”

According to a statement from HIS Denver Special Agent in Charge Ryan Spradlin, fentanyl-related deaths rose over 70% in Colorado during 2021 and don’t show signs of slowing down. “This poison that transnational criminal organizations increasingly smuggle into the United States is responsible for over 100,000 deaths nationwide while putting millions of dollars in the pockets of drug cartels,” Spradlin said. He continued by thanking the many individuals who worked on the case, “Many lives were saved, and families remain intact because of their commitment to public safety.”

Nationally the drug has quickly become the leading cause of death of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Since 2015, Colorado has seen a 1,008% increase in fentanyl-related deaths. In 2021, the Colorado State Patrol seized five times more fentanyl than it had the previous year.

“The poison of fentanyl continues to flow into communities across Colorado, at the expense of too many lives.  As a result of the outstanding teamwork in this investigation, a major shipment of powder fentanyl was intercepted,” said Boulder Country District Attorney Michael Dougherty.  “The District Attorney’s Office wants to recognize and thank the DEA, HSI, the Front Range Task Force, Longmont Police Department and the RMHIDTA for their coordinated efforts to protect our community and prevent more tragic deaths from fentanyl.  Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute fentanyl dealers.”

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country.  It is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. Just 2.2 milligrams of fentanyl, enough powder to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.  The drug is found in both powder and pill form and has been found mixed with other substances like cocaine.

RMHIDTA Executive Director Keith Weis stated that “This outstanding multi-agency effort by our public safety professionals has disrupted the distribution of a significant amount of dangerous illicit fentanyl intended for Colorado communities” Weis went on to say that “seizures of illicit fentanyl by Colorado task forces in 2022 are at record levels and impressive multi-jurisdictional operations such as this continue to be a necessary component in the strategy to reduce overdose fatalities”

Reyes-Carillo remains in custody at this time. The charges are merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.