DEA And Colorado Attorney General Topple International Cocaine Trafficking Organization
DENVER, CO. - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement (DEA), has shut down a cocaine ring that imported multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico into Colorado.
According to the indictment the cocaine trafficking operation was led by Noel “Chihuas” Loya Loya, Abel Loya and Manuel “Martin” Loya Loya. These three, working with the other members of the ring, imported the cocaine from Mexico, through New Mexico, and distributed it to users in the Denver metro area. The ring is suspected of importing to Colorado an estimated 24 kilograms of cocaine between June 2010 and September 2010.
“This drug sting represents a major victory in interrupting the supply of highly addictive, dangerous drugs to Colorado,” Suthers said. “This is just the latest drug-interdiction victory we have accomplished in cooperation with our federal peers. Their help was instrumental in bringing this case and ultimately eliminating a major supplier of cocaine to Colorado.”
“Mexican drug trafficking organizations continue to pose a threat to the safety of the citizens of Colorado,” DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin R. Merrill said. “The drugs they transport from Mexico into the United States are dangerous substances, from which they profit greatly. To combat these organizations successfully requires the cooperation of, not only all of law enforcement, but the support of the public as well.”
The indictment also names Javier Torres, Joel Octavio Rivas-Loya, Angela Hernandez, Gerardo Perez-Salazar, Daniel Garcia and Larry Perez-Salazar.
Prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General and the Adams County District Attorney’s Office will present the case against the defendants in Adams County District Court.
