In a significant crackdown on the illegal drug trade in Tucson, Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced the indictment of two individuals, Baltazar Quintero Bueno, and Dalia Rodriguez De-Padilla, on charges related to the distribution of fentanyl. As reported by the Attorney General's Office, a Grand Jury in Pima County has charged Bueno with thirteen felony offenses, while De-Padilla faces three, in connection to their alleged sale and possession of the potent drug.

Authorities detailed that on December 23, 2024, Bueno was apprehended with 4.65 pounds of fentanyl pills. Following the issuance of a search warrant at his residence, law enforcement seized an additional 73.3 pounds of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder weighing 1.75 pounds, and 0.355 pounds of methamphetamine, as detailed by the Attorney General's Office. Alongside the narcotics, $5,000 in cash and three pistols were found, culminating in charges against Bueno and De-Padilla including Conspiracy and Illegally Conducting an Enterprise.

Both suspects are also linked to prior drug sales, with records showing the sale of 2.45 pounds of fentanyl pills on May 28, 2024, and Bueno himself was charged with a sale of 2.25 pounds on June 11 of the same year, as per the Attorney General's Office. The pair entered a plea of not guilty at their arraignment on January 9 and under the principles of the justice system, remain innocent until proven otherwise by the legal process.

The investigation, led by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, aims to dismantle the distribution network that has fed the drug crisis in southern Arizona. Assistant Attorney General Sabrina Lochner is set to prosecute the case.