PUEBLO, Colo. – Twenty people were arrested in connection to a drug bust that turned up hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and over $2 million worth of cocaine – and it was all thanks to a K9 who sniffed trouble on our state roads.
Pueblo Police Officers, working in partnership with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, stopped a black Ford 350 for a traffic violation as it drove southbound on I-25 through Pueblo back in back in April 19, 2015.
The Ford driver, Jose Tomas Ramirez, 57, was contacted and an open-air sniff was conducted by K9 Widget, who was able to sniff narcotics.
The vehicle was towed and searched by investigators, who were able to find a hidden compartment that contained 45 sealed packages.
“The contents turned out to be cash in the amount of $373,750,” according to the Pueblo Police Department.
Ramirez was not arrested at the time due to a larger scale investigation being conducted, an officer said in a press release.
But during a task force investigation, over 60 pounds of cocaine, more than $410,000 in U.S. currency, methamphetamine and five vehicles were seized, according to the department. The cocaine had a street value of over $2 million.
A total of 20 people were arrested, charged and subsequently convicted on various crimes. Their sentences range anywhere from nine months to 34 years in the Department of Corrections.
Five men remain at-large and have outstanding warrants for their arrest:
Manual Gonzalez, 26; Noel Bencomo Saenz, 43; Jose Tomas Ramirez, 57; Cesar Ramirez Grajeda, 25; Jorge Sanchez, 34.
If anyone has any information regarding the location of Ramirez, you are urged to submit a tip.
To remain anonymous contact Pueblo Crime Stoppers at (719) 542-STOP (542-7867) or www.pueblocrimestoppers.com. Where, if your information leads to a felony arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
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