MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Two men have been charged after 6 pounds of cocaine and over 2 pounds of methamphetamine were recovered in Inver Grove Heights Tuesday, according to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
Mike Sanchez, 27, and Josue Ivan Ledezma-Lopez, 22, who are both of Inver Grove Heights, face two felony counts each of first-degree controlled substance crimes.
According to authorities, the Dakota County Drug Task Force received information that Sanchez was involved in trafficking large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine directly from Mexico.
So, on Tuesday, a confidential informant working with the task force ordered a large amount of controlled substances from Sanchez, who agreed to deliver them to Brooklyn Park. Agents conducting surveillance later spotted Sanchez leaving the residence with a black backpack.
Sanchez was later pulled over in Golden Valley by a Minnesota State Trooper, who observed the backpack on the floor of car. After being given verbal permission by Sanchez to search the car, the trooper opened the backpack and observed a brick-type package wrapped in red tape, which was later tested and found to be 2.2 pounds of cocaine, authorities said.
Later that day, a search warrant was executed at Sanchez’s residence in Inver Grove Heights. Inside, Ledezma- Lopez was located in possession of over $1,000 and was taken into custody. In total, over 5.85 pounds of cocaine, 2.96 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.1 ounces of marijuana and $22,000 in cash was seized.
“This case involves significant quantities of illegal drugs. Illegal drug abuse poses a significant threat to public safety. We are pleased that law enforcement was able to remove from the streets such a large quantity of illegal drugs. The street value of the cocaine is about $120,000 and the meth is valued at about $30,000,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said.
Backstrom said the amount of cocaine seized in this investigation was more than three times the amount of cocaine seized in all of 2012 in Dakota County.
The next court appearance for Sanchez and Ledezma-Lopez is set for Aug. 19.
