900 Pounds of Methamphetamine Seized in Minnesota
ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a major blow to the methamphetamine trade, two men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute nearly 900 pounds of the highly addictive substance in Minnesota. Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, and Guillermo Mercado-Chaparro, 44, face one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, with Mercado-Chaparro also charged with Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
According to court documents, an undercover police officer purchased a pound of methamphetamine from Mercado-Chaparro, who was driving a Toyota Tacoma truck during the buy. Post-buy surveillance revealed that Mercado-Chaparro was traveling throughout south Minneapolis to conduct suspected drug deals. Several days later, police observed Mercado-Chaparro retrieving two large garbage bags from the truck bed and placing them in a nearby Jeep Wrangler.
Police stopped the Jeep and ordered Casas-Santiago and Mercado-Chaparro out of the vehicle. A drug-sniffing dog alerted the odor of drugs, leading to the discovery of over 250 pounds of methamphetamine in the garbage bags and a cooler. A search warrant for the Tacoma ultimately uncovered an additional 630 pounds of methamphetamine from the truck bed.
The massive haul brings the total amount of methamphetamine in the possession of Casas-Santiago and Mercado-Chaparro to nearly 900 pounds, with the intent to distribute. ‘This isn’t just another drug bust—it’s one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Minnesota history,’ said Acting United States Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. ‘A 900-pound haul like this doesn’t just show intent to distribute. It shows intent to poison entire communities. We will not let Minnesota become a distribution hub for cartel-scale operations. This prosecution is just the beginning.’
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Minnesota Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Ramsey County Crime Enforcement Team, the St. Paul Police Department, the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, and the Minneapolis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Slaughter and Campbell Warner are prosecuting the case.
As the investigation continues, the community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The seizure of nearly 900 pounds of methamphetamine is a significant blow to the drug trade, and the prosecution of Casas-Santiago and Mercado-Chaparro serves as a warning to those involved in similar activities.
Related Federal Cases
- Chad Root, Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine, IA, 2023 · Iowa
- Ryan Hansen, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, IA, 2013 · Wisconsin
- Isaias Vasquez-Amaya, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, MN, … · Wisconsin
- Ryan Michael Schroeder, Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine, L… · Washington
- Justin Raul Sanchez, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, MO, 2014 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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