Four men accused of involvement in a large-scale, multi-state fentanyl trafficking network were arrested in Colorado, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced Wednesday.
State and federal law enforcement agencies arrested the four undocumented individuals last month after an eight-month investigation that began in Cañon City, according to a CBI statement.
Authorities seized roughly 800,000 fentanyl pills, along with fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, heroin, six vehicles, and about $60,000 in cash during the operation.
Investigators said the suspects were distributing drugs throughout the Denver metro area and parts of southern and northern Colorado.
Rafael Salazar-Amaya, identified as the primary suspect, faces 44 criminal charges, including violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA) and multiple drug-related offenses.
The other men arrested include Fernando Noriega-Alvarado, 52; Celedonio Pulido-Romero, 31; and a 24-year-old male whose identity has not been released. All face various charges linked to drug distribution and organized crime.
The investigation uncovered that the trafficking network is believed to be connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, with ties in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Mexico, according to CBI.
“This was a meticulous operation that required interagency cooperation to take down a massive operation,” said Dan Volz, deputy director of investigations at CBI. “Every pill taken off the streets is one less potential overdose death.”
During the broader federal operation tied to this investigation, authorities arrested 16 individuals and confiscated record-breaking quantities of fentanyl, cash, firearms, and vehicles in states including New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona.
That effort marked the largest fentanyl bust in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s history. It was allegedly led by Heriberto Salazar Amaya, 36, brother of the Colorado suspect, who was among those arrested.
All four men arrested in Colorado are being held at the Adams County Detention Center and will be prosecuted by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
