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Authorities To Announce Major Heroin Bust

DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned that authorities will announce on Tuesday that they have busted a major heroin ring operating in Denver.

CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger on Monday visited the Cherry Creek bike path where he has been documenting heroin use there for years.

The Colorado attorney general, Drug Enforcement Administration, Denver Police Department and West Metro Drug Task Force were involved in the bust. It's expected to be announced the bust was the culmination of a major operation involving heroin.

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An admitted heroin user sleeping along the Cherry Creek bike path (credit: CBS)

The Cherry Creek bike path is Ground Zero for heroin in downtown Denver. Used syringes scatter the landscape. One man on Monday told Sallinger he had just given it up.

"I'm going through the cleaning process ... not even a day, but that's enough for me. To go without a day is a miracle for me," the man on the bike path said.

The bike path has held an uneasy relationship between bicyclists, joggers and those strung out on heroin. A man named Michael is pleased to see action.

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CBS4's Rick Sallinger interviews "Michael" who is happy with the police action (credit: CBS)

"It's changed a ton in the last three weeks. They've been all over it. Denver PD is doing a great job," Michael said.

"Are they arresting people? Sallinger asked.

"Oh yeah, daily," Michael replied.

In the past CBS4 has documented how sometimes the homeless work on corners hand-in-hand with the heroin dealers. But even with all the news stories and police actions, it's a problem that's difficult for the city and those on heroin.

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(credit: CBS)

"I gave it to God. I can't seem to do it myself. I'm not able to do it," said the man on the bike path.

The Denver Coroner's Office says at least four people have died from overdoses involving heroin so far this year.

According to a source, the big heroin takedown ranged from street dealers to higher level distributors. There will be strictly state-level charges -- no federal charges.

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