Dismantled a methamphetamine laboratory in Houston (Texas) and seized 515 kilos of narcotic

Thanks to information provided by the National Police to the US DEA, a methamphetamine laboratory in Houston has been dismantled and 515 kilos of narcotic have been seized. The UDYCO Central agents channeled the information through the DEA liaison officer in Spain, providing the US authorities with real-time information about the criminal organization.

In this operation, two brothers who led the network have been arrested and 60 kilos of crystallized methamphetamine, 240 of liquid methamphetamine, an automatic assault rifle, four high-end vehicles, 3,000 dollars in cash, laboratory material and chemical precursors have been seized. . With this operation, a source of production of the Mexican cartels in the United States is considered disarticulated. The US agencies HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have collaborated in the operation.

The investigation began in October 2020 by UDYCO Central, when an organization based in the United States was being monitored that was generating methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories. The agents channeled the information thanks to the coordination of the DEA liaison officer in Spain, providing the US authorities with real-time information about the criminal organization. Once the negotiations had begun, a collaboration was established between DEA Spain, through its liaison officer, and the Dallas Field Division, in conjunction with Task Force Group 2 (HIDTA Group 2).

The initial information indicated that a man, as the main person in charge, and his brother would be establishing a laboratory for synthetic drugs, specifically for amphetamine. The agents focused their efforts on locating these subjects in the United States, as well as the possible location of the clandestine laboratory they would be using. The steps taken made it possible to locate said laboratory in Texas, where they were engaged in the manufacture and distribution of narcotic substances of synthetic origin, mainly methamphetamine, also maintaining contacts with Mexican cartels. 

A delivery of 215 kilos of amphetamine frustrated

At the end of March, by virtue of Spanish and American collaboration, the agents managed to thwart a delivery from the organization, seizing 215 kilograms of amphetamine in Laredo, Texas. After this fact, the objective of the investigators was to dismantle the clandestine laboratory and obtain evidence that linked the criminal organization with the Mexican cartels.

As a result of the investigations of the National Police, in collaboration with the DEA, the agents were able to locate the specific place where the leaders of the organization were preparing the clandestine laboratory, where a shipment of highly pure methamphetamine would be available to the organization. . This shipment consisted of 300 kilos of liquid methamphetamine that the organization intended to release immediately. 

Two brothers arrested as responsible for the laboratory

On April 30, 2021, HIDTA members from the Dallas Field Division, DFW Airport Task Force, and HSI, in collaboration with UDYCO, executed a search warrant at their available laboratory in Texas. During the operation, the two main leaders of the organization were arrested and 60 kilos of crystallized methamphetamine, 240 kilos of liquid methamphetamine, an automatic assault rifle, four high-end vehicles, $ 3,000 in cash, laboratory material and chemical precursors were seized. .