Ramsey County (trfnews.i234.me) – In what authorities believe could be the largest meth bust in Minnesota history, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team and the Minneapolis division of the FBI have recovered 889 pounds of methamphetamine during an operation on Monday, July 7.
According to a Tuesday announcement by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the bust took place during two separate traffic stops in Minneapolis. Officials say it was part of a larger effort targeting major drug trafficking organizations, with links to Mexican cartels.
Two men were arrested and charged:
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Guillermo Mercado Chaparro, 44, faces two counts of first-degree drug sales.
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Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, is charged with one count of first-degree drug sales.
Neither man is from Minneapolis, and both are allegedly tied to international drug operations. According to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the statutory minimum sentence is 65 months for each charge.
The street value of the seized meth is estimated at $1.7 million.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino described the operation as part of a major crackdown that would soon expose larger drug trafficking networks.
“This seizure is staggering,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. “900 pounds of meth nearly made it into our communities. The potential for harm is overwhelming.”
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.