Watch CBS News

Drug Agents Arrest More Than 30 In Northwest Metro Area, Seize Drugs

DENVER (CBS4) - Authorities in northwest Denver on Thursday morning arrested more than 30 people on drug charges and confiscated pounds of illegal drugs.

Drug Arrests
A broken window at an Arvada home where one or more of the arrests happened. (credit: CBS)

More than 100 agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the North Metro Task Force served warrants for trafficking of cocaine and methamphetamine and arrested 32 people.

"As we prepared for today's activity, we were concerned, very concerned about the possibility of an armed confrontation with some of these folks," said North Metro Drug Task Force Sgt. Jim Gerhardt.

The take-down targeted 17 locations in Northglenn, Thornton, Commerce City, Arvada, Denver and unincorporated Adams and Arapahoe counties. SWAT teams from a number of local law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation which began about 6 a.m. Thursday.

"Thankfully the plan went exactly as designed and no one was hurt which was a huge relief," said Gerhardt.

The arrests are a culmintion of Operation Silence, a year-long investigation by numerous law enforcement agencies into a large drug ring operating in Adams County and the north metro area.

Arrests
(credit: CBS)

Seven pounds of methamphetamine, three pounds of cocaine, two pounds of heroin and eight firearms were recovered as a result of the take-down. Some of the drugs are tied to Mexican cartels.

"They're operating out of residential homes all throughout the metro area so it puts neighbors at risk, puts people in the community at risk," said Gerhardt. "The Denver metro area is a safer place now that they're in custody."

The investigation is continuing and further arrests are expected to be made.

"This was a very dangerous group of individuals, and I am very thankful that no one was injured in the successful take-down of this group," said Adams County District Attorney Dave Young.

In some of the homes where the drugs were seized officers also found children.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.