EIGHT CHARGED WITH MOVING 'HIGHLY PURE' METH IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO

Eight charged with moving 'highly pure' meth in southwest Colorado The
Drug Enforcement Administration has arrested charged eight people on
charges of trafficking "highly pure methamphetamine" in southwest
Colorado, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver said today.

The two-year investigation netted $25,670 in cash, 6.5 pounds of meth
and seven guns, including assault rifles, according to
prosecutors.

Those arrested were Hilario Quintero-Rodriguez, 40; Octavio
Quezada-Perez, 46; Abel Sanchez-Leon, 37; Flodina Beletso Gallegos,
28; Guadalupe Ruiz-Guardado, 50; Julio Mares-Ruiz, 25; Luis Jorge
Martinez-Valdiva, 35; and Robert Mason Byas, 60.

All eight face drug trafficking charges and face 10 years to life in
federal prison and fines up to $4 million.

"The drug methamphetamine is a danger to the health and safety of our
families and communities in Colorado," DEA Acting Special Agent in
Charge Kevin Merrill said in a press release.

"We hope the arrests we are announcing today sends a message to those
that are profiting from the distribution of this dangerous drug --
that the DEA will consider investigations of methamphetamine dealers
to be a DEA priority in this state, and we will continue to target
those who choose to involve themselves in this illegal activity."