Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced on April 22 the indictment of Luis Ronaldo Nieblas-Beltran on felony charges connected to a large-scale drug trafficking operation in Arizona.
Nieblas-Beltran was arrested on March 10 while allegedly preparing to deliver many drugs, including fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills, heroin, and methamphetamine.
He is charged with conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise, transport for sale of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, and possession of a dangerous drug for sale.
Authorities allege that on Nov. 19, 2021, Nieblas-Beltran provided another person with a “large quantity” of fentanyl powder, from which officers recovered approximately 10 kilograms.
On March 10, investigators learned that the accused was preparing to deliver a large quantity of fentanyl, Brnovich said in a press release.
Investigators went to an undisclosed location where Nieblas-Beltran allegedly stored drugs and recovered approximately 20 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 74,000 fentanyl pills, 6.5 pounds of heroin, and 84 pounds of methamphetamine.
The estimated street value of the drugs is $1,256,500, Brnovich said.
The Phoenix Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tempe Police Department, and the Attorney General’s Office conducted the joint investigation.
In an unrelated case, on April 18, Brnovich’s office indicted Camilo Urquiza Sanchez on charges related to the large-scale sale of illegal drugs.
On March 10, authorities executed a search warrant at Sanchez’s home and located 317 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $317,000.
Sanchez is charged with conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise, and possessing a dangerous drug for sale.
His arrest followed an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the DEA, as well as Peoria and Mesa police.
