An investigation that began in December 2018, has resulted in thousands of drugs being seized from the Northern Colorado and surrounding areas.

A little over seven months ago, the Longmont Department of Public Safety, Special Enforcement Unit initiated an investigation into the activities of Longmont resident, Joshua Ward. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement identified a number of other people in the Northern Colorado region who were assisting Ward in the distribution of large amounts of methamphetamine, Fentanyl and prescriptions drugs.

Shortly after learning about this drug enterprise, Longmont SEU joined forces with the DEA's Tactical Diversion Squad, ATF, and the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office to expand the investigation to not only Northern Colorado, but also the Denver Metropolitan and Front Range regions in their entirety.

Through the partnership of these organizations, and the ongoing investigation of the criminal ring, it was determined that over 50 different parties and possible co-conspirators were involved. A vast number of these suspects have been identified, and are being associated with various crimes, including drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and numerous Violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA). More than 19 of these drug trafficking suspects have already been arrested and charged with various offenses.

In total, law enforcement seized 1,472 Counterfeit 30 mg Oxycodone Hydrochloride Pills (Fentanyl), 3 lbs. of methamphetamine, 1.64 lbs. of ephedrine, 288 Schedule II Synthetic Opioid Pills, 18.7 grams of cocaine, 6.7 grams of heroin, 10 Benzodiazepine Pills and numerous rifles, handguns, and a shotgun.

On Monday, July 1, another major update to the investigation led to multiple law enforcement agencies coming together, once again, to execute search warrants in the Denver Metro area and Fort Collins. Local, state, and federal agencies located and arrested many of those that were previously indicted. During Monday's searches, approximately 30 firearms, as well as various types of ammunition and firearm silencers were seized. Six of the recovered firearms were AK-47 style rifles, and did not have serial numbers.

Law enforcement continues to investigate and pursue suspects within this crime ring and additional arrests are anticipated.

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