Another huge drug seizure in Colorado found inside produce boxes
- Media Logic Radio
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
The largest methamphetamine seizure in Colorado history has been announced — a staggering 733 pounds of meth found hidden inside boxes of the produce chayote.
At a Wednesday morning news conference, officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, FBI, and IRS detailed the massive two-year investigation that led to the bust. In total, 15 people have been indicted by a federal grand jury. One of them, Marco Antonio De Silva Lara, is accused of being the leader of the trafficking organization and faces what prosecutors call “the drug kingpin charge.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Dave Olesky said the investigation involved undercover operations, complex wiretaps, nearly 75 search warrants, and extensive surveillance — calling the effort a “massive undertaking.”
This case unfolded through a series of major seizures. It began in December 2024, when agents seized 96 pounds of meth from a suspect on a Greyhound bus in Vail. Then in February, another 101 pounds of meth and half a kilogram of fentanyl powder were found during a traffic stop on a Colorado highway. In April, more than 700 pounds of meth were taken from a Lakewood home, along with freezers, propane tanks, and equipment used to make the drug. Investigators say thousands of individual packages were found hidden among chayote containers. And in August, nearly 50 more pounds were seized from an Arvada residence.
Eleven of the defendants are now in federal custody. The remaining suspects are believed to be in Mexico. All 15 face federal drug charges that carry at least 10 years to life in prison, and four are also charged with money laundering.
Multiple agencies contributed to the investigation, including Homeland Security Investigations, ICE, and several Colorado law enforcement departments.
U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly says the operation stopped more than 1,000 pounds of meth from reaching Colorado communities and highlights what federal and local agencies can accomplish when they work together.
