In what unfolded as a significant drug interdiction effort, federal agents seized a colossal haul of methamphetamine on October 10, at a Norcross storage facility: 325 pounds of the substance carefully concealed by Marco Cueto-Rosales. Originally agitating the scene was a K9 unit, whose sharp instincts caught the scent of narcotics, eventually leading to a larger investigation and subsequent search warrant.
As was reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta, the goods—1,500 rectangular packages of meth—were found hidden inside plastic tote bins and trash bags by agents acting upon the warrant. Offering testimony to urgency, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg was clear in his disdain, declaring, "Although the Mexican cartels stockpile and peddle their poison in our community, the quick actions of law enforcement thankfully took these deadly drugs off the streets."
Marco Cueto-Rosales was promptly arrested and found to have been residing in the United States without legal permission. The 47-year-old native of Malinalco, Mexico, faced legal proceedings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Regina D. Cannon on federal charges including conspiracy and intent to distribute methamphetamine. The federal grand jury was convened, and an indictment following suit was issued on October 28.
This latest bust plays a part in the larger context of Operation Take Back America, an aggressive national strategy that not only aims at drug seizures but also endeavors to dismantle cartels and protect the public from violent crime. With the coordination between the Drug Enforcement Administration and Gwinnett County Police, the operation exemplifies a joint force in action against narcotics trafficking. As the case proceeds, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. LaGrone is at the helm of the prosecution, according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
While the indictment serves only as an allegation, Cueto-Rosales is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The U.S. Attorney's Office encourages the education on drug dangers, pointing parents and children towards resources like www.justthinktwice.gov.
