Denver-area police say they’ve broken up a heroin-dealing operation run by illegal immigrants from Mexico that targeted teenagers and young adults and distributed about a half pound of heroin a week.
Four suspects from Mexico were jailed in Jefferson County, authorities announced Wednesday. The suspects were identified as Julio Cesar Gandara-Quinones, 34; Gustavo Adolfo Valdivia-Garcia, 27; Reynaldo Anguiano-Valdivia, 37; and Acela Davalos-Castanedo, 53.
A West Metro Drug Task Force team began investigating the suspects in July and still is chasing leads, according to a statement from Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mark Techmeyer.
Heroin was distributed, according to the statement, by having customers call a phone number where a dispatcher could send out runners. These runners were sent to meet customers at locations where heroin was sold, the statement said. As many as 100 customers a day received heroin in Jefferson County, including Arvada and Lakewood.
Search warrants were executed simultaneously last Friday at two Denver residences — 7600 Tejon St. and 2030 W. 26th Ave. #2504. Police arrested the four suspects and recovered roughly seven ounces of heroin with a street value of about $36,000. Police say they also seized about $7,000 and vehicles.
